The Salmon Recovery Funding Board on Wednesday awarded a $150,000 grant to the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative to fund cleanup of derelict fish nets, which kill salmon in Clallam and Jefferson counties’ waters.
“We’re trying to remove all known derelict nets in the salmon corridors,” said Tom Cowan, Northwest Straits director.
Derelict fish nets and shellfish pots are being located and recovered from Puget Sound waters because they trap and kill fish and shellfish.
More than a ton of crab and shrimp pots lost in Port Angeles Harbor were recovered Monday and Tuesday as part of the Northwest Straits derelict gear removal program after being located by high tech equipment. Funding of $27,500 for the program was awarded to Clallam County’s Marine Resources Committee, and the work was contracted to private marine surveyors and scuba divers.
Jefferson County will receive some of the $150,000 grant funding because the salmon corridor runs through that county as well, said Cowan.
The derelict net recovery program will also extend into the Jefferson County side of Hood Canal.
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