Marine Resources

Crabber and Towboat Lane Project

WSU Extension provided leadership for developing gear-free tow lanes from San Francisco to the northern coast of Washington. Results include:

Reduced loss of crabbing gear from tow lines.
Expanded fishing grounds by better defining tow lanes.
Reduced energy expenditures by tug and barge operators.

Spartina Control

Before 2003, state and federal agencies were expending over $2.3 million per year to control invasive spartina in Willapa Bay, Grays Harbor, and the Puget Sound. In 2004, WSU Extension and research personnel helped develop more effective control mechanisms. As a result:

Complete eradication of spartina is projected to occur within the next decade using these methods.
Economic impacts include more effective use of the $2.3 million expended annually for control and preservation of the shellfish industry in Willapa Bay

WSU Extension, PO Box 646248, Hulbert 411, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-6248, 509-335-2837, Contact Us