Setnet Program

Mission:  Develop and promote stewardship, restoration and maintenance projects for coastlines.

Project Dates:   2009-2020

Summary:  We conceived and coordinated this innovative program to remove marine debris from remote beaches near commercial set-net salmon fishing sites along the western and southern shores of Kodiak Island.
ITN is using small and large vessels teams to clean continuous stretches of shoreline around the port of Kodiak, a proven and effective method of addressing the worst-affected areas. 
 

Background: The greatest challenges to keeping Kodiak's 1500 miles of coastline free from marine debris is getting out to the remote coasts to collect, and then getting it back to a transfer facility for sorting and recycling.  To accomplish this, we needed a labor force, and a mechanism of delivery. 

The program works like this: Set net fisherman remove marine debris from coastlines near their respective fishing sites during fishing closures.  Once the fishery opens again and they are ready to deliver their catch to a tender vessel, they also transfer their marine debris.  The tender vessel delivers the marine debris simultaneously as it delivers fish.  The two do not compete for cargo space, nor do they contaminate one another--the seafood is kept below decks in a refrigerated sea water tank, the marine debris above decks and sealed in super sacks. 

Once the marine debris is delivered to the cannery back in Kodiak city,  it is transferred to Island Trails Network for sorting, shipping and eventual recycling.  

The innovative marine debris setnet program was possible through a partnership with individual salmon fishermen and seed funding from the Alaska Marine Stewardship Foundation nearly a decade ago.  The program resumed in 2019 under grants NFWF and starting in 2020, NOAA as well.