|
Overview
Derelict fishing gear (DFG) is nets, lines, crab/shrimp pots and other
recreational or commercial fishing equipment that has been lost, abandoned or discarded in the
marine environment. Derelict gear can persist in the environment for decades, killing species that
encounter the gear. It is a major marine debris problem worldwide and has been
identified as one of the most biologically threatening types of marine debris. Derelict gear poses
a threat to marine mammals, seabirds, shellfish and fish through "ghost fishing," where the gear
can attract, trap and kill a wide variety of animals. This can attract other feeding animals to
perpetrate the cycle. Such wasteful killing can continue for decades.
 Ghost
fishing reduces fishery stocks otherwise available for commercial and
recreational fishers. Significant accumulations of gear can reduce available spawning and
rearing habitat necessary to support future generations. Additionally, an abandoned net or pot can
create a hazard on which additional gear snags.
Derelict fishing gear also can pose a threat to human safety, restrict other
legitimate sanctuary uses, such as regulated fishing, anchoring and operation of vessels, and
diminish the aesthetic qualities of activities such as scuba diving.
 The
extreme weather conditions and complex seabed features of the Olympic Coast
National Marine Sanctuary increase the potential for fishing gear entanglement and loss. Although
the area has been subjected to substantial fishing effort over the years, very little effort has
been devoted to surveying and removing derelict gear or assessing its impacts on local marine resources.
Sanctuary staff
has observed derelict gear in the course of remotely-operated vehicle surveys of the sanctuary. In
addition, there is anecdotal information about widespread derelict gear, some of which
has been reported as an imminent threat to marine mammals. Yet, no systematic surveys have been
conducted until recently.
In 2005, OCNMS was awarded funds from NOAA's Office of Restoration and Response
for a pilot project to identify and remove derelict fishing gear in the northern part of the
sanctuary, as well as to develop safe operating protocols for gear removal operations while working
in the open ocean environment. The pilot project is a
partnership with the Makah Tribe and the Northwest Straits Commission with a goal to build capacity
in an affected community
to conduct future derelict gear removal projects using resident commercial diving expertise and
local people and vessels.
Download the full report
DerelictGear07FinalReport.pdf (308k pdf)
For more information on NOAA's national marine debris program, visit
http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/welcome.html
|
