Oregon Derelict Gear Recovery
Pacific; 2007
Background | Partners | Benefits of the Project | Photos | 1-pager
Background
This project complements the 2006 Oregon Fishermen’s Cable Committee (OFCC) derelict gear removal project, as well as pending marine debris work proposed by the Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership.
First objective: To remove lost crab traps from two locations of heavy commercial crabbing. These are sites that were swept one year prior, as part of the OFCC effort. The outcomes of the first objective are that gear will be removed that was lost during the peak crabbing season, and the rate at which lost crab traps re-populate areas of active crab fishing will be assessed. Every season, several thousand crab traps are lost off the Oregon Coast.
Second objective: To hold a public demonstration and media event in conjunction with one of the 'sweeps.' This second objective serves to generate more attention for marine debris recovery and prevention, increase public awareness of marine debris as a problem, give credit to the commercial fishing industry for their efforts at habitat protection, and stimulate technology transfer to other regions facing similar derelict gear problems.
Partners
- Oregon Fisherman’s Cable Committee
- Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership
Benefits of the Project
- Reduce negative impact to marine biota
- Reduce economic impact to coastal fishing communities
- Improve science and natural resources education
Photos
Off-loading recovered gear. Photo courtesy of NOAA.
High school students assisting in off-loading gear and identifying marine biota. Photo courtesy of NOAA.
1-pager
Download the 1-pager handout (pdf 958KB) on this project here.
This program is funded through NOAA's Ocean Service, Office of Response & Restoration, Marine Debris Program.
