Tuesday May 17, 2022
National Fisherman —
Vessels contracted by the state of Oregon will soon begin a pilot project to recover lost Dungeness commercial crab pots, with the goal of reducing the danger of entanglements with whales and other marine life.
The spring in-season derelict crab pot recovery is a pilot project set up by the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission in partnership with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Crabbers work to keep track of their expensive gear throughout the Dungeness crab season, but “some get moved and lost due to heavy storms, natural drifting debris, or vessel traffic and is then considered derelict gear,” according to an advisory from state officials.
The recovery effort is focused on waters deeper than 40 fathoms (240 feet), where commercial crab pots are prohibited beginning May 1. The goal is to reduce the risks of gear entanglement with marine life protected under the Endangered Species Act.