Sea You Never

The Tragic Tale of Derelict Fishing Gear

A pile of nets sits near Zuanich Point Park in Bellingham, Wash. Nets are frequently found during marine removal projects

Story and photos by Peyton Perdue

December 14, 2024

Derelict crab pots are a consistent killer among crab populations. This abandoned gear leads to ghostfishing and the disappearance of the crabs.

“Ghostfishing occurs when lost or discarded fishing gear that is no longer under a fisherman’s control continues to trap and kill fish, crustaceans, marine mammals, sea turtles and seabirds. Derelict fishing nets and traps can continue to ghostfish for years once they are lost under the water’s surface,”  according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

Crab pots sit near the harbor in Bellingham, Wash. Crab pots are designed to lure in crab and keep them. When abandoned, the crab cannot escape and die inside, luring more animals in.

It is estimated that 12,000 crab pots become abandoned each year, according to a study by he Northwest Straits Foundation, the Jefferson and Clallam County Marine Resources Committees, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

“A crab trap may break loose from its buoy in bad weather and continue to trap, which may then act as bait themselves and attract other fish or species not originally intended for capture,” According to the 2015 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program Report. 

The damages that derelict gear causes continue to impact marine life populations and profit margins for the fishing industry, according to NOAA. 

But not all hope is lost.

A Dungeness crab sits in the sand in the Bellingham Marine Life Center. Dungeness crabs are one of the most affected species of ghostfishing. Approximately 177,000 or more crab die each year due to derelict gear.

Groups like the nonprofit Northwest Straits Foundation and the federal National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration are working to create systems to deal with the problem at hand while educating about prevention in the future. 

Jason Morgan, the marine projects manager at the Straits Foundation, and manager of the Puget Sound derelict fishing gear program, has been paving the way for change. 

“Not many people knew what in the world derelict fishing gear was, so we're kind of the pioneers in it,” Morgan said. “We’ve done a lot of research to understand the impacts of the gear and what it's doing down there.”

Crab and Fishing gear sit in a storage unit near Zuanich Point Park in Bellingham, Wash. Gear like this, if abandoned, can cause ghost fishing to occur.

Morgan has been with the Straits Foundation for 10 years and organizes both removal dives and educational outreach resources. 

“After survey data is processed, commercial divers will dive down to the identified targets and attach a rope to the derelict crab pots which are then hauled on board the vessel with a hydraulic winch,” according to the Straits Foundation. “Crab pots with identification information will be returned to their owners, unidentifiable but usable pots will be donated to local organizations, and unusable pots will be recycled.” 

These removals have led to the restoration of around 860 acres of marine habitat. 

But the work doesn't end there. To combat this problem, the Straits Foundation is working to prevent it from happening in the first place.  Their project “Catch More Crab” is an ongoing educational resource for better practices. 

Here are some suggestions to ensure your gear is safe and secure. 

• Avoid marine transit and ferry lines

• Check tides and currents.  Avoid crabbing during strong tidal changes and currents.

• Use high-visibility buoys to clearly mark your gear 

• Use a weighted line to sink below the surface and avoid being cut by passing boats.

• Weigh your pot  so they do not move in high currents or tidal changes

• Use a longer line. Use one-third more line than water depth to allow for changes in tides and currents

• Secure lid and escape panel with bio-degradable cotton escape. This allows crabs to escape from lost pots after the cord degrades.

 The resources, which are available on their website, are a combination of videos and written guidelines on steps to ensure gear doesn't become lost. 

Since 2004, more than 5,800 crab pots have been recovered by the Straits Foundation. As time passes, they continue to diligently fight the beast of ghost fishing and help crab populations in the Puget Sound.