Fishermen never intend to lose their expensive nets or crab pots but accidents do happen. Once lost, the nets and pots continue to do what they are designed to do; catch and kill fish, crab and marine creatures of all types.

The Northwest Straits Commission is the lead agency involved in the recovery of derelict fishing gear. The recovery team aboard the “Bet Sea” have removed thousands of tons of derelict gear from the sea bed and have forged a program that serves as a model for other agencies intending to recover derelict gear throughout the world. A twelve minute video produced by the Northwest Straits Commission is included in NorthWest Indian News program 18.