Over the course of two February weekends, volunteers, staff, and members of the commercial fishing industry retrieved more than 2,500 traps during the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ annual Derelict Crab Trap Rodeo.
Two events were held on separate Saturdays, but cleanup efforts continued in the designated areas throughout the closure period.
The Lake Pontchartrain cleanup, headed by the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, was based out of Pelican Pointe Marina in Orleans Parish on February 13.
Volunteers from LPBF, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and local chapters of the Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana worked with LDWF personnel to collect 554 traps during the event, and LDWF and LPBF staff continued to collect an additional 832 traps during the closure for a grand total of 1,386 traps removed.
The Barataria Basin cleanup, headed by the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program, was staged out of Jean Lafitte Harbor in Jefferson Parish on February 20.
Volunteers from BTNEP, local CCA chapters and commercial crabbers worked in coordination with the Department to collect 874 traps. During the remaining closure period, an additional 320 traps were collected, for a total of 1,194 traps removed.
LDWF initiated the volunteer-based Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program in 2004 to address removal of derelict and abandoned crab traps. The program is funded in part by the sale of Louisiana commercial and recreational crab fishing licenses.
Since the program’s inception, volunteers have assisted in removing nearly 27,366 traps. Removal of these traps is imperative since they increase ghost-fishing mortality of blue crabs and other species captured incidentally, interfere with other commercial fishing gear types, create navigational hazards and reduce visual appeal of the environment.
According to LDWF, the success of these events would not be possible without the support of the Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary Foundation, Boat Stuf Discount Marine Supplies, Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Marsh and Bayou, Southside Grill and members of the general public.
source: Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries