In 2009, CCA volun- teers and other concerned anglers began to work on the problem of ghost nets in fresh water systems.
CCA’s actions in the Pacific Northwest have had an immediate positive effect bringing this issue to light.”
TROUBLE ON THE MOVE Fresh water ghost nets are different
from those in the Puget Sound in that with each change of the river, high water and floods, these nets can move, making their way down the river, con- stantly changing position and finding new waters to fish indiscriminately as they make their way into Puget Sound. Many of these nets are deeply
only by an algae-coated float. Once one of the premiere river sys- tems in the Cascade Range, the Nook- sack River boasted flourishing runs of all four anadromous salmon species and blockbuster runs of steelhead and bull trout. These days, the river system struggles with spring Chinook returns in the low teens, and unknown returns of wild steelhead and bull trout. In November 2009, the North Sound
Chapter of CCA Washington docu- mented and photographed more than 62 derelict nets in the Nooksack River. Like the silent killers in the Sound, these fresh water nets also pose an imminent threat to birds, salmon, steel- head and mammals not only in the Nooksack River, but in other Puget Sound river systems.
Over the last two years, the North Sound Chapter has diligently pressed the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and local man- agers to establish regular patrols of the Nooksack River to remove these destructive river ghosts. The effort began in November 2009
when a net location list, GPS coordi- nates and pictures were provided to WDFW Director Phil Anderson in the hopes that the department would be able to work directly with Lummi and Nooksack tribal leaders for the prompt removal of the nets. Unfortunately, in April 2010, the Department responded that it lacked adequate authority and funding to remove the nets, although it would continue discussions with tribal authorities.
EYE-OPENING
power of the ghost nets has gradually increased, thanks to educational cam- paigns and media coverage of NWSI’s work. However, while many people are aware of the dangers in places like Puget Sound, far fewer are aware that the problem of derelict nets stretches far upstream as well. In 2009, CCA vol- unteers and other concerned anglers began to work on the problem of ghost nets in fresh water systems. “As a Washington river guide, I’ve seen firsthand the damage derelict nets can cause on our rivers. Since CCA became involved, this significant prob- lem has come to the forefront with our Washington fisheries managers,” says Ed Megill. “Derelict nets are being identified and removed from the rivers. This is fantastic news, as some of our runs are depressed or ESA-listed.
TIDE
In November 2009, the North Sound Chapter of CCAWashington documented and photographed more than 62 derelict nets in the Nooksack River.
embedded in the woody debris, river banks and other crucial habitat to migratory salmon and steelhead. Some are simply left tied and aban- doned to flow freely, at times visible
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To raise awareness, CCA Washing- ton issued a press release on the prob- lem, which generated an article that was subsequently published in five Puget Sound newspapers. Soon after, a meeting was arranged between CCA and leaders of the Lummi and Nook- sack tribes. Even prior to the meeting, the Nooksack tribe pro-actively re- moved 13 abandoned nets from the river, and the WDFW continues to work with both tribes on patrols and net removal. CCA Washington also pressed for
action from the NOAA regional office, which unbelievably declared that derelict gear is “only treated as a com- ponent of natural mortality.” The response went on to say that “it is not practical to assign a specific level of mortality to derelict gear.” Given the millions of dollars that are poured into habitat restoration and the dire circum-
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