Russell Family Foundation Supports Second Round of Gear Removal from Port Susan

In 2003, 57 crab pots were recovered from Port Susan Bay. In August 2005, 33 more pots were removed, containing 735 crabs. The removal effort will continue as long as weather & funds permit.

The Russell Family Foundation granted $54,000 in 2005 to continue the gear removal effort from Port Susan in 2003. Two years ago, the Stillguamish Tribe sponsored a successful survey and removal operation in Port Susan waters. Four days of side scan sonar surveys on one half of the fishing grounds revealed 338 derelict crab pots.

Following the surveys were four days of diver removal operations. In this time divers were able to recover 57 derelict crab pots, which included 171 live and dead Dungeness crab.

171 live and dead crab

While this work was impressive, there are still several hundred known crab pots that need to be recovered and an estimated 600-700 total pots in Port Susan. A trapped crab may last up to a week in a pot before it dies, decomposes, and is eaten by yet another crab. Based on this cycle and the estimated number of pots in Port Susan, nearly 24,000 crabs may be killed by derelict gear each year in Port Susan. This is about 10% of the crab fishery, and this amount is not taken into consideration when management and take regulations are created each year. Similar figures have been reported in Port Angeles.

Full 2003 Report

Full 2006 Report

There are now official protocols in place to help remove derelict fishing gear from our waters. The first step is locating and reporting found gear, with if possible GPS coordindates. The reporting hotline is 1-800-477-6224. The WA state website for gear removal is http://www.wdfw.wa.gov/fish/derelict.