DERELICT TRAP REMOVAL PROGRAM: OTHER STATES

*DERELICT CRAB TRAP REMOVAL PROGRAM* *Programs In Other States*
General information on derelict crab traps and trap removal programs can be found in Derelict Crab Traps and Trap Removal Programs authored by the Crab Subcommittee of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commisison and available from the GSMFC web site www.gsmfc.org -- go to Programs, Habitat Program, and then to Derelict Crab Traps. Florida In 2003, legislation was passed which provided for the establishment of a blue crab trap removal program. However, in 1985 a trap retrieval program for stone crab and spiny lobster traps was started. Traps remaining in the water during closed seasons were removed by agency personnel, contracted vendors, and volunteers. The number of derelict traps collected in recent years include 3500 in both 1996 and 1997, 9000 in 1999, 18163 in 2000, and 50 in 2001. Intially, a fee of $10 per abandoned trap was assessed to the trap owner and dedicated to operation of the trap retrieval program. In 2000, a special $25 fee was assessed to each stone crab license, and dedicated to trap retrieval. A derelict crab trap clean-up for the blue crab fishery was held in Tampa Bay on November 20, 2004. Alabama Several general marine debris clean-up programs were completed in Alabama in the late 1900s. In 1998 and 1999, 356 derelict traps were removed during the annual Coastal Cleanups. In 2002, two trap removal projects were implemented through administrative action by the Commission of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. A one day (June 15) shallow-water trap closure within 100 yards of the shoreline was promulgated; approximately 50 volunteers picked up 323 traps. A deepwater crab trap cleanup took place on the first seven days of the shrimp season (June 5-11); 124 traps were collected. Two trap sweeps took place in 2003. During the shallow-water closure on June 15, 1020 traps were collected by 200 volunteers. Only four deepwater traps were collected during the seven-day shrimp season closure. A shallow water trap clean up took place on Saturday, March 13, 2005. All traps within 500 yards of shore had to removed by crab fishermen. Approximately 180 volunteers removed 375 traps. No derelict crab trap clean-up took place in 2005. Mississippi The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR), in conjunction with the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, initiated a Derelict Trap Program in late 1999. Coastal waters were surveyed, problem areas identified, a public education iniative started, and a trap retrieval program was initiated by agency personnel. From January 2000 through December 2003, 2,200 derelict crab traps were collected. In 2002, legislation was passed which gave the MDMR Commission the authority to implement a trap closure for 10-30 days in a specified area, with traps becoming litter on the eighth day. A statewide closure took place in 2003 from January 14 through January 26, with one day designated for volunteers. Approximately 1430 derelict traps were collected. In addition, agency and university personnel collected 388 derelict traps in the fall of 2003. In 2004, a shallow water trap clean up took place from March 14 through April 3, 2004. All crab traps within a half mile of shore had to removed by crab fishermen for one week in each of the three coastal counties. Fifty four volunteers removed 856 derelict crab traps. No derelict crab trap clean-up took place in 2005. Texas Prior to 2002, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) enforcement personnel occasionally removed illegal or abandoned traps as their schedules allowed. These efforts were usually in response to complaints received from the public or other commercial fishermen. Over the past several years, approximately 2000 abandoned or derelict traps were removed from coastal waters. In 2001, legislation was passed which allowed the TPWD Commission to have a trap closure for 10-30 days between February 1 and March 31 within a specified area; on the eight day of the closure, remaining traps were considered litter and could be collected and brought to disposal sites. In 2002, a statewide closure from February 15 to March 3 took place. Over 500 volunteers (215 vessels) collected 8,011 traps. In 2003, slightly under 500 volunteers (152 vessels) collected 4,000 traps during a statewide closure from February 15 to March 2. In 2004, a derelict crab trap clean up took place statewide from February 20-29. Three hundred eleven volunteers removed 3,571 derelict crab traps. In 2005, a statewide closure and clean up took place from February 18-27. A total of 2,509 crab traps were collected by volunteers in 78 vessels. Another crab trap clean up is planned from February 10-19, 2006. Atlantic Coast A pilot fishing gear recycling program, supported through the National Marine Fisheries Service Marine Entanglement Research Program, was proposed during the mid-1990s for the south Atlantic states of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The only successful progam, however, was in North Carolina. A commercial fishing gear recycling program was implemented in North Carolina in early 1995. Dumpsters were placed at convenient sites and identified with special blue highway signs. Traps were collected during a two-week seasonal closure (late January to early February) when fishermen were required to remove all traps from the water. Approximately 4600 traps were collected. The collection program was later discontinued, although the two-week seasonal closure to allow the removal of abandoned or lost traps is still in effect. Only agency personnel collect the traps during the closure. [HOME PAGE]

DERELICT CRAB TRAP REMOVAL PROGRAM

Programs In Other States

General information on derelict crab traps and trap removal programs can be found in Derelict Crab Traps and Trap Removal Programs authored by the Crab Subcommittee of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commisison and available from the GSMFC web site www.gsmfc.org -- go to Programs, Habitat Program, and then to Derelict Crab Traps.

Florida

In 2003, legislation was passed which provided for the establishment of a blue crab trap removal program. However, in 1985 a trap retrieval program for stone crab and spiny lobster traps was started. Traps remaining in the water during closed seasons were removed by agency personnel, contracted vendors, and volunteers. The number of derelict traps collected in recent years include 3500 in both 1996 and 1997, 9000 in 1999, 18163 in 2000, and 50 in 2001.

Intially, a fee of $10 per abandoned trap was assessed to the trap owner and dedicated to operation of the trap retrieval program. In 2000, a special $25 fee was assessed to each stone crab license, and dedicated to trap retrieval.

A derelict crab trap clean-up for the blue crab fishery was held in Tampa Bay on November 20, 2004.

Alabama

Several general marine debris clean-up programs were completed in Alabama in the late 1900s. In 1998 and 1999, 356 derelict traps were removed during the annual Coastal Cleanups.

In 2002, two trap removal projects were implemented through administrative action by the Commission of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. A one day (June 15) shallow-water trap closure within 100 yards of the shoreline was promulgated; approximately 50 volunteers picked up 323 traps. A deepwater crab trap cleanup took place on the first seven days of the shrimp season (June 5-11); 124 traps were collected.

Two trap sweeps took place in 2003. During the shallow-water closure on June 15, 1020 traps were collected by 200 volunteers. Only four deepwater traps were collected during the seven-day shrimp season closure.

A shallow water trap clean up took place on Saturday, March 13, 2005. All traps within 500 yards of shore had to removed by crab fishermen. Approximately 180 volunteers removed 375 traps.

No derelict crab trap clean-up took place in 2005.

Mississippi

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR), in conjunction with the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, initiated a Derelict Trap Program in late 1999. Coastal waters were surveyed, problem areas identified, a public education iniative started, and a trap retrieval program was initiated by agency personnel. From January 2000 through December 2003, 2,200 derelict crab traps were collected.

In 2002, legislation was passed which gave the MDMR Commission the authority to implement a trap closure for 10-30 days in a specified area, with traps becoming litter on the eighth day.

A statewide closure took place in 2003 from January 14 through January 26, with one day designated for volunteers. Approximately 1430 derelict traps were collected. In addition, agency and university personnel collected 388 derelict traps in the fall of 2003.

In 2004, a shallow water trap clean up took place from March 14 through April 3, 2004. All crab traps within a half mile of shore had to removed by crab fishermen for one week in each of the three coastal counties. Fifty four volunteers removed 856 derelict crab traps.

No derelict crab trap clean-up took place in 2005.

Texas

Prior to 2002, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) enforcement personnel occasionally removed illegal or abandoned traps as their schedules allowed. These efforts were usually in response to complaints received from the public or other commercial fishermen. Over the past several years, approximately 2000 abandoned or derelict traps were removed from coastal waters.

In 2001, legislation was passed which allowed the TPWD Commission to have a trap closure for 10-30 days between February 1 and March 31 within a specified area; on the eight day of the closure, remaining traps were considered litter and could be collected and brought to disposal sites.

In 2002, a statewide closure from February 15 to March 3 took place. Over 500 volunteers (215 vessels) collected 8,011 traps.

In 2003, slightly under 500 volunteers (152 vessels) collected 4,000 traps during a statewide closure from February 15 to March 2.

In 2004, a derelict crab trap clean up took place statewide from February 20-29. Three hundred eleven volunteers removed 3,571 derelict crab traps.

In 2005, a statewide closure and clean up took place from February 18-27. A total of 2,509 crab traps were collected by volunteers in 78 vessels.

Another crab trap clean up is planned from February 10-19, 2006.

Atlantic Coast

A pilot fishing gear recycling program, supported through the National Marine Fisheries Service Marine Entanglement Research Program, was proposed during the mid-1990s for the south Atlantic states of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The only successful progam, however, was in North Carolina.

A commercial fishing gear recycling program was implemented in North Carolina in early 1995. Dumpsters were placed at convenient sites and identified with special blue highway signs. Traps were collected during a two-week seasonal closure (late January to early February) when fishermen were required to remove all traps from the water. Approximately 4600 traps were collected.

The collection program was later discontinued, although the two-week seasonal closure to allow the removal of abandoned or lost traps is still in effect. Only agency personnel collect the traps during the closure.

[HOME PAGE]