Derelict fishing gear can continue to catch and kill marine life long after it is lost and can also damage marine habitats. Starting in 2002, the Northwest Straits Initiative pioneered a nationally recognized program to locate and remove derelict fishing gear in Puget Sound.

Since 2002, the Initiative has removed over 1,600 derelict crab pots and 970 derelict fishing nets covering over 230 acres of marine habitat. Thousands of dead animals, representing 112 different species were removed from this gear including sea lions, harbor porpoises, harbor seals, otters, cormorants, grebes, gulls, mergansers, salmonids. Over 250 acres of marine habitat has been restored through this program.