According to the news Oregon off-season fishers, among others, will employ to remove crab pots and other derelict fishing gear along the Oregon coast. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration informed that it has awarded the $699,184 grant to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) for removal of 180 metric tons of derelict Dungeness crab pots and other fishing debris. Contributions from the project partners bring the total project expenditure to $835,174.
It is told that more about 90 percent of the funds will go to create or maintain 48 jobs. Of those, 31 are targeted for commercial fishermen, who have been especially hard hit recently by high fuel prices and the national economic downturn. It is told that the short-term goal is to improve the habitat for Dungeness crab and other marine species, the long-term goal is to manage, and to find industry-based solutions to recover gear before it accumulates.
Steve Williams, Assistant Fish Division Administrator for ODFW, opined that the federal grant will act as a boost and not only address the direct marine debris problem we are currently facing, but also find ways to help the industry be better prepared to deal with the issue of marine debris. The Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission, Oregon State Police and the commercial fishing industry are partners with ODFW in the project.
