Publicity and Volunteer Recruitment

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is the lead agency for the derelict crab trap removal program. However, the program is volunteer based. Consequently, publicity and volunteer recruitment are essential and are heavily emphasized. A planning committee assists the LDWF with publicity.

The Department's publicity campaign targets all user groups. Some of the specific tasks include:

• Preparation of a source document for the planning committee and the media.
• A mail-out to local commercial crab and shrimp fishermen to advise them of the derelict trap issue, the upcoming area closure, and removal and disposal procedures.
• Distribution of brochures at seafood dealers, marinas, bait and tackle shops, etc.
• Department news releases.
• Providing information about the derelict crab trap removal program to various media outlets (newspapers, magazines, radio, televison).

Physical Removal

Collection of derelict traps are different for shallow water winter and deep water spring crab trap closures. In a spring closure, most of the derelict crab traps are retrieved by shrimp fishermen through incidental capture in their shrimp gear; consequently, the major need is cooperation from shrimp fishermen. A shallow water winter trap closure involves volunteers targeting abandoned traps, with volunteer recruitment of individuals with boats of vital importance. The Department provides personnel on the "volunteer days" at the designated disposal sites. A contractor transports the traps from the temporary disposal sites to permanent disposal sites.

Supplies / Instructions

The LDWF provides some supplies (gloves, tarps, trap hooks, etc.) for use by volunteers. In addition, volunteers are provided with instructions and maps of the closure areas.

Monitoring

The Department documents the number of traps recovered and volunteer time and expenses. Program results are reviewed and recommendations developed for future derelict crab trap removal efforts.

Program Objective

The long term goal is, of course, to remove derelict crab traps from Louisiana waters. Achieving this goal requires crab trap clean ups across coastal Louisiana. The map below depict the areal coverage of the 2004 through 2007 clean ups.

Program Needs

The major need is volunteers with boats who are willing to collect derelict crab traps. Land-based volunteers to assist LDWF personnel at the disposal sites. Airboats, mud boats, or other boats with air-cooled engines to collect traps in very shallow water are very beneficial.