Ghost Net and Derelict Fishing Gear Removal

Ghost nets are fishing nets that have been lost in the marine environment that continue to harm marine life. They kill fish, marine mammals, and seabirds as well as destroy habitat. Lost gill nets are extremely lethal because of how easy organisms become entangled in them. Entangled organisms become bait for predators which also get caught in the nets. In addition, the lead lines associated with nets are pushed by the tide and scrape away eelgrass beds and other marine habitat causing exponential damage to our salmon ecosystem.

The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group received funding from the Salmon Recovery Funding Board to survey and document locations of lost fishing nets in Hood Canal . Since June of 2002, the HCSEG has been using underwater video equipment that survey's a 60-90 foot cross-section of the marine bottom in one pass. The low light high resolution underwater cameras offer visibility in clear conditions up to 600- feet deep.

Surveys began at Union and have covered both the North and South shores of the Hood Canal up to Hood Point. Surveys will continue until completed up to the Hood Canal Bridge. Since the project's onset, 16 ghost nets have been located in the Hood Canal, seven of which have been removed totaling about 1700 pounds of net, floats, and lead line. Salmon bones and crabs were found in all of the nets.

Certain nets were removed upon location while other nets could not be removed with the available equipment on the survey boat. These nets have all been mapped onto a GIS database and can be relocated. The next step is to get the rest of these nets out of the habitat. Currently, the HCSEG is involved a comprehensive ghost net removal that will rid the Hood Canal of all documented nets.

How are we going to do it? Not alone. The HCSEG has contracted for the last couple of summers Dale Thoemke "Doc", to assist with his boat and photo surveillance equipment. Additionally, The US Navy is going to assist, using remotely operated underwater vehicles. Nets will be cut loose and pulled to the surface without using any divers. Larger nets will be removed with a barge that has a long excavating arm that can handle the big nets weighted by sea life entangled in the nets. They are bundled and put in garbage bags for disposal.

Among the abandoned and lost gillnets located in the Canal includes derelict fishing gear and other man-made debris. These items include: five sunken vessels, one abandoned house (underwater), several tires, discarded boat batteries, one motorcycle, and several lost crab pots. Items we have been able to recover have been either returned to their owners or disposed of. This is a critical step in the Hood Canal salmon recovery. We need to maintain a marine corridor that is free of unknown death traps so that these fish can return safely to their natal streams.

You can help! If you notice abandoned gill nets or derelict gear please note:

• Location- GPS coordinates and /or chart location (latitude and longitude)
• Water depth, and distance from nearby landmarks and or common names for the area.
• Details: Date and time of sighting, Your activity during the sighting (beach walk, swimming, diving, boating)
• type of seabed
• size of the gear
• number and type of animals observed entangled in the gear
• perceived level of threat to humans or passing vessels.
• Contact Information: Your name, phone number and or email address.

This is all important if more information is needed. However, anonymous reports are also welcomed. Report what you see even if you are not sure whether the gear is lost or abandoned.

Please report to the HCSEG or the WDFW Derelict Fishing Gear Hotline 1-800-477-6224 or www.wa.gov/wdfw/fish/derelict