Recovery of Derelict Crab Pots in Puget Sound Using Remotely Operated Vehicles: A Framework for Community-Led Marine Debris Removal

Derelict Dungeness crab pots are a widespread and costly form of marine debris in Puget Sound, where they continue to trap marine life long after being lost. Traditional removal efforts rely on commercial divers, but diver-based methods are limited by depth and availability of trained personnel. This study presents a practical framework for derelict pot recovery using Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), evaluating the method's efficiency, accessibility, and potential for community-led implementation. Here we describe the findings of retrieval operations between 2021 and 2025, with a case study focused on a 2023 effort in Sequim Bay, Washington. Using a low-cost modified BlueROV2, 50 pots were successfully removed from depths greater than the 100-foot depth limit for dive removal efforts. These results show that ROV-based removal offers a scalable, lowrisk complement to diver-based methods, with the potential to be employed by the tribal fishing community and youth-led STEAM programs.