Since 2002, more than 2,000 fishing nets lost by fisherman have been removed from the shallow waters in the San Juan County region of Washington's Puget Sound.
An estimated 15 to 30 fishing nets are lost annually, becoming immediately detrimental to wildlife and the environment. While the Department of Natural Resources and Natural Resources Consultants are able to remove nets in shallow waters, they're partnering with the Army to retrieve the estimated 233 nets that are deeper.
Divers with the 569th Engineer Dive Detachment will use this experience as part of training.
"This is a unique opportunity to partner with the Army to address the critical habitat for sealife in our northern waters, while service members also get the training they need to work in deep-water conditions," said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz. "Working together, this project will ensure more derelict nets are removed as part of protecting and preserving our aquatic lands for fish and other marine wildlife."
Army diving operations for the Army Deepwater Derelict Net Removal project started Monday, July 8, and will continue through July 28. Using side-scan sonar surveys, drop-camera surveys, and diver surveys, the Department of Natural Resources has been able to identify 233 derelict nets ready to be retrieved.
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The nets that have already been recovered contained 533 dead birds, 21 dead mammals, and 1,110 alive and dead fish.
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