Lost Fishing Net Strewn Across the Salish Sea Floor Near San Juan Island

On a recent research dive near San Juan Island, SeaDoc Society Science Director Joe Gaydos captured video of a large fishing net clinging to the rocky ocean floor. We immediately reported the net to the on-line, no fault reporting hotline (www.derelictgea...) so they can begin the process of removal, which is a complex and dangerous job - even for trained professionals.
Derelict gear is fishing gear that is accidentally lost or discarded. It is a huge threat to marine wildlife. SeaDoc Society has collaborated on several projects over the years related to derelict fishing gear and even used the highly successful Washington State model developed by the Northwest Straits Commission (link: www.nwstraits.... ) to replicate a program in California based out of SeaDoc’s mother program, the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center.
A 2009 study conducted by SeaDoc Society and the Northwest Straits Commission showed that while it costs $1,358 to remove a derelict net, every net removed saves $1,966 annually in Dungeness crab alone - that means we’re making about 50% return on our investment in year one, then annually for decades thereafter.
Remember - report any gear you find and leave the removal to the experts. It’s a no-fault reporting program, meaning there’s no penalty for losing and reporting gear. Nobody wants to lose a net in the first place! The goal is simply to remove gear like the net in this video before it can harm too many animals.
Here's the study about the cost/benefit of gear removal:
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[@debraernst3628]

This is disgustingly sad