Project Lead:  Lynne Wenberg-Davidson

Project Partners: Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Island MRC, and Salish Sea Alliance

Project Years:  2026 - 2027

Why We Do It

Lost shellfish pots cause negative economic and environmental impacts in marine waters.  This project is a collaborative effort to locate and remove derelict crab pots in Skagit Bay.

Local Knowledge to Identify and Prioritize High Density Crabbing Areas

Skagit MRC worked in collaboration with Swinomish Tribal Community, Island MRC (shared waters) and Salish Sea Alliance to identify, prioritize, and target high density crabbing areas for derelict crab pot removal in Skagit Bay using local knowledge of the Swinomish Fisheries Commission.

Side-Scan Sonar to Map Derelict Pot Targets for Removal 

Side-scan sonar was used to locate and map the derelict pots in the 6 high density areas in Skagit Bay in preparation for gear removal and recycling by Salish Sea Alliance.  A total of 397 derelict pot targets were identified and mapped for removal.

Derelict Crab Pot Removal Operations

Salish Sea Alliance is leading derelict crab pot removals with contracted divers in most areas and the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) in deeper waters (100 plus feet).  Removal operations are only conducted during closed crabbing days and are weather dependent.