The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has conducted systematic scientific bottom trawling in Puget Sound since 1987. Although the primary objective of these surveys is to monitor bottomfish populations, the survey is effectively representative of anything physically inhabiting the soft-bottom habitat of Puget Sound. This includes numerous species of invertebrates, as well as inorganic material such as marine debris, which are also classified and recorded. As it wasn’t historically the primary research objective, the marine debris data from this survey have yet to be comprehensively evaluated. This project seeks to make use of this long-term dataset to better characterize the abundance and distribution of marine debris in Puget Sound, as well as how patterns of marine debris have changed over time.
Marine pollution is a persistent problem here in Puget Sound and across the world, and characterizing its abundance, distribution, and patterns of accumulation is key to informing prevention and cleanup efforts. In addition, there are multiple aspects of this dataset that provide a unique opportunity to achieve multiple goals across different organizations. WDFW has long been interested in conducting a formal analysis of their marine debris data, but other areas of research were prioritized with the limited agency resources. At UW, this dataset presents an opportunity to train an undergraduate in data analysis, scientific writing, and the publication process, teaching them valuable and highly transferrable skills, while at the same time addressing long-standing research questions and advancing our understanding of the extent of the marine debris problem in Puget Sound.
We expect to identify hotspots of marine debris accumulation, which will help inform ongoing, targeted removal efforts. Marine debris cleanup efforts currently underway in Puget Sound include the Derelict Fishing Gear Removal Project co-directed by the Northwest Straits Foundation, WDFW, and Puget Sound Treaty Tribes, as well as the Marine Debris Removal Program led by the Department of Natural Resources. Additionally, a better understanding of the composition of marine debris in Puget Sound will help focus the outreach and education efforts of numerous agencies and NGOs with the shared goal of reducing litter at the origin. ($17,000)