AUGUST 14, 2015--On August 13, 2015, at Boxcar Park in Everett, the Northwest Strait Initiative and invited guests celebrated the completion of derelict fishing net removal from shallow waters of Puget Sound.

Most of the fishing gillnets were lost during the height of the salmon fishing days in Puget Sound from the 1950s to the 1970s, and even after many years, continued to entangle untold number of marine animals, damage habitat, and pose a safety risk to humans and boating. The project, a 13-year tenacious effort, removed 5,667 derelict nets, restored 812 acres of marine habitat, and by removing the harmful gillnets, prevented the entanglement of millions of marine animals, and greatly improved safety for boating and humans.

In addition to derelict fishing net removal, Northwest Strait Initiative, through highly collaborative work, developed an innovative side-scan-sonar method to locate lost nets, put in place a reporting system and database for derelict nets, led research on the impact of derelict gillnets, and conducted outreach to fishers, legislators, decision makers, and the general public.

The NOAA Marine Debris Program and the NOAA Restoration Centers have supported derelict gear removal projects in Puget Sound for many years, and partnered with Northwest Strait Initiative to support this derelict net removal effort, the largest of its kind in the US.

While much work remains to be done to prevent and remove marine debris in Puget Sound, it is cleaner and safer now thanks to the effort of Northwest Strait Initiative and its many partners.

For more information on this project, please contact Nir Barnea.

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