Event Title

Emerald Sea Protection Project

Presentation Abstract

The Emerald Sea Protection Project (ESPP) is a civilian led initiative to identify, survey and remove abandoned, lost and/or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) along the Canadian Pacific Coast. The plan of operations has three stages:

  • modelling probable ALDFG distribution

  • confirmation of ALDFG presence predicted by this model

  • recovery and disposal of salvaged materials.

This method will be applied at various scales over the course of a multi-phase project. In this, the first phase, the objective is to provide a ‘proof of concept’ on a small scale and establish our approach as a viable Canadian solution to this issue.

Our presentation will initially describe the need for this work and identify the scale and impact ALDFG has on marine ecology, specifically in the Canadian Salish Sea.

We will illustrate our methods for identifying these likely problem areas for ALDFG using a combination of fishing data, sea current modelling as well as sea-bed topography to establish three test sites as suitable for the initial surveying. With over 25,000 km of coastline to assess and very little reliable data available, the proper identification of these “hot spots” is both crucial and valuable.

The presentation will go on to explain our current work and initial findings in surveying these areas. Survey methods will be described, which we anticipate will incorporate Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), side scan sonar and commercially trained divers to confirm locations and to survey the ALDFG.

Finally we will outline proposed expansions for the project. Initially we will highlight the limitations of the first phase emphasizing the importance and potential benefits of collaboration with other groups working in the same field as well as their potential to provide us with support. Additionally we will discuss proposed recovery/disposal techniques, educational opportunities and future goals for the initiative.

Session Title

Habitat

Keywords

Key words: Abandoned, Lost, Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG)

Conference Track

Salish Sea Snapshots

Conference Name

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)

Document Type

Event

Start Date

2016 12:00 AM

End Date

2016 12:00 AM

Location

2016SSEC

Type of Presentation

Snapshot

Genre/Form

conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)

Contributing Repository

Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.

Subjects – Topical (LCSH)

Marine debris--Cleanup--British Columbia; Marine pollution--British Columbia--Management

Geographic Coverage

British Columbia; Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)

Comments

Key words:

Abandoned, Lost, Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG)

Rights

This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.

Type

Text

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

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Jan 1st, 12:00 AM Jan 1st, 12:00 AM

Emerald Sea Protection Project

2016SSEC

The Emerald Sea Protection Project (ESPP) is a civilian led initiative to identify, survey and remove abandoned, lost and/or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) along the Canadian Pacific Coast. The plan of operations has three stages:

  • modelling probable ALDFG distribution

  • confirmation of ALDFG presence predicted by this model

  • recovery and disposal of salvaged materials.

This method will be applied at various scales over the course of a multi-phase project. In this, the first phase, the objective is to provide a ‘proof of concept’ on a small scale and establish our approach as a viable Canadian solution to this issue.

Our presentation will initially describe the need for this work and identify the scale and impact ALDFG has on marine ecology, specifically in the Canadian Salish Sea.

We will illustrate our methods for identifying these likely problem areas for ALDFG using a combination of fishing data, sea current modelling as well as sea-bed topography to establish three test sites as suitable for the initial surveying. With over 25,000 km of coastline to assess and very little reliable data available, the proper identification of these “hot spots” is both crucial and valuable.

The presentation will go on to explain our current work and initial findings in surveying these areas. Survey methods will be described, which we anticipate will incorporate Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), side scan sonar and commercially trained divers to confirm locations and to survey the ALDFG.

Finally we will outline proposed expansions for the project. Initially we will highlight the limitations of the first phase emphasizing the importance and potential benefits of collaboration with other groups working in the same field as well as their potential to provide us with support. Additionally we will discuss proposed recovery/disposal techniques, educational opportunities and future goals for the initiative.