The Northwest Straights Foundation, a tax-exempt non-profit, has been very active during the past few years surveying for derelict gear, removing some, and projecting how many thousands more remain in Puget Sound and adjacent waters. As far as I know, no surveys have been conducted in the Columbia River.

Here is a quote from one of their many informative web site pages: “ Derelict fishing gear priority ranking project. The Foundation recently completed a project to identify and rank priority areas for derelict gear removal throughout Puget Sound and to estimate the cost of removing most of that gear from high priority areas. High priority areas were identified in North Puget Sound and the San Juan archipelago. In those high priority areas, an estimated 2,855 derelict fishing nets remain to be removed. Of the known fishing grounds in these areas, 11% have been surveyed in the San Juan Islands and 18% have been surveyed in north Puget Sound. Further surveys would serve to refine the estimate of remaining derelict nets. There are an estimated 1,038 derelict nets remaining in the lower priority areas of central and south Puget Sound and Hood Canal. Removal of the higher priority derelict nets would require an estimated 816 operation days (163 days per year over five years) and cost approximately $3.3 million. Removal of the lower priority derelict nets would require an estimated 297 additional operation days and cost approximately $1.2 million. Support for this project was provided by the Russell Family Foundation, the Puget Sound Action Team, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Program.”

When you have time, plow around through their web site; it’s full of interesting information.

And, THANKS, DOC, for the CCA plug. You are right on!