From another site Thank CCA from NW Straits Initiative.: Steelheader.net- Steelhead, Salmon and trout fishing

Thanks to CCA
by jajfish on Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:45 pm

Some of you may have heard about the Northwest Straits Initiative and their 5 year project to remove derelict fishing gear from Puget Sound. CCA has been an active supporter of this effort and lobbied hard to have it included in any future NOAA funding. Well their's and others efforts (including the Tribes) have exceeded all expectations and the Northwest Straits Foundation has just received over $4.5 million dollars to removed nearly all of the historical derelict fishing gear (4,000+ nets) from Puget Sound. The project will be employing commercial harvest divers who previously supplied sea cucumbers, sea urchins and geoducks to Asian markets that have all but collapsed in the global economic downturn. This project will use stimulus money to do exactly what was intended, supply family wage jobs to our out of work local divers over the next 18 to 24 months until hopefully the world economy recovers while significantly improving the environment of Puget Sound by removing the legacy of lost gillnets and purse seines from the seabed. Every gillnet we recover is loaded with recreational fishing gear, lingcod, cabezon, rockfish and the occasional salmon, not to mention the damage to the habitat these derelict nets cause. We stand to make a real improvement in Puget Sound habitat over the next 18 months. We have all of the players onboard supporting this project , CCA, other sport groups, Tribal and non-tribal fishers. Gillnetting and purse seining in Puget Sound is greatly reduced from what it was historically and current fishermen are reporting any loss of gear immediately to WDFW and the Northwest Straits is responding with their divers to remove the gear before it does any significant damage. Again, as the field manager of the Northwest Straits' derelict fishing gear removal program, I would like to acknowledge CCA's efforts in supporting this important project. Regardless of how you feel about netting, this is a positive effort to reduce the impacts of this legacy gear and move on with more rational management. It just proves the point that rational compromise sometimes results in a better resolution than absolute confrontation. Keep an eye out for our removal boats in Puget Sound and the Straits this next year and a half. We'll be flying the NOAA, Northwest Straits Initiative, WDFW and CCA banners. Thanks again for all of your support.

Cheers, JJ
jajfish

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