California Lobster & Trap Fishermen’s Association (California, $105,550) will remove lost fishing gear from beaches south of Point Conception down to San Diego, as well as in the Channel Islands. Severe swell events in the past two years have increased the number of traps washing ashore and getting lost underwater, which increases the likelihood of ghost fishing and other potential ecological hazards both in the water and on the beach.
Coastal Mapping & Sciences, LLC (Louisiana, $150,580) will build on the success of the current Louisiana Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program by locating, mapping, and removing derelict blue crab traps from high density areas, as well as collecting standardized data and reducing damaging ecological effects. Terrebonne Basin, Lake Pontchartrain, and Barataria Basin account for approximately 60% of all traps lost in the Gulf of Mexico Region.
Cornell Cooperative Extension (Connecticut and New York, $141,249) will remove around 1,000 derelict lobster pots in the Long Island Sound. The catastrophic Long Island Sound lobster die-off, which occurred in 1999, resulted in a dramatic drop in American lobster abundance and landings. As a result of the fishery collapse, many lobster fishers deemed it economically unfeasible to retrieve their deployed gear, electing to abandon it in the Sound. CCE will work with longstanding collaborators (The Maritime Aquarium, Save the Sound, Project Oceanology, the Remote Ecologist) to build upon efforts that have resulted in the removal of over 22,000 derelict lobster pots from the Long Island Sound to date.
Delaware Sea Grant (Delaware, $69,504) will remove derelict recreational blue crab pots from Delaware’s Inland Bays, collect data to understand the problem and its effects, and educate the Delaware recreational fishing community about the impact derelict fishing gear can have on the environment. Because commercial crabbing is not permitted in the study area, this project highlights the contribution that recreational crabbers can make towards reducing the prevalence of derelict crab pots.
Ebiil Society, Inc (Palau, $128,000) will remove derelict traps and abandoned clam farm structures that threaten public access, navigational safety, and sea life in mangrove and seagrass habitat in the states of Ngarchelong, Ngiwal, Airai, and Ngatpang in Palau. Nearshore waters are littered with an unknown number of derelict mangrove crab traps and deteriorating, abandoned giant clam farm structures. The project area includes Palau’s marine Protected Areas Network sites and a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization Biosphere Reserve.
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (Florida, $154,139) will remove submerged derelict spiny lobster and stone crab traps from the coastal waterways of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Divers will conduct removals in waters up to 130 feet deep using SCUBA equipment and lift bags. This innovative method allows for the extraction of traps that have lost their buoys and cannot be retrieved from the surface. Data collected during retrieval will increase regional knowledge about trap loss and accumulation.
Northwest Straits Foundation (Washington, $99,500) will partner with Natural Resources Consultants to remove and prevent derelict crab pots in the Maury Island Aquatic Reserve. The Reserve is managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and is located within the Puyallup Tribe of Indians’ usual and accustomed fishing grounds. This project will help restore habitat, reduce crab trap entanglement issues, improve navigational safety, and support the Tribe’s commercial and subsistence fisheries. Additionally, educational outreach to the local crabbing community will help prevent reaccumulation of derelict crab pots.
Ocean Aid 360 (Florida, $170,000) will remove derelict crab and lobster traps in nearshore benthic waters of the Florida Keys. Building on a previous proven intervention effort, this project aims to achieve broad habitat improvements, benefit NOAA trust resources, and support the coastal economy. The project will include the collection, analysis, and reporting of standardized data, which will help inform the derelict fishing trap removal and prevention community of practice.
OceansWide (Maine, $199,364) will remove abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear in Vinalhaven Island, one of the most active and productive American lobster fishing areas in Maine. This project will create a valuable modeling tool to efficiently and effectively prioritize future gear removal efforts. Due to a prevalence of high-quality habitat and the archipelago’s location in Penobscot Bay, large amounts of fishing activity occur close to shore and significant concentrations of abandoned gear are known to occur in the vicinity.
The Oyster Recovery Partnership (Maryland, $134,226) will remove derelict blue crab traps from the waters of Anne Arundel County in the Chesapeake Bay. This initiative builds on decades of successful derelict trap removal projects, integrates data from a long-term state mapping initiative, and aligns with the County’s goals to benefit watermen and improve local waterway health.
University of Florida/IFAS Extension & Florida Sea Grant (Florida, $119,638) will remove derelict fishing traps and associated debris from coastal and marine habitats, including sea turtle habitat within Biscayne National Park and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. These areas are inundated with unsightly recreational and commercial trap fishery-related debris, threatening coastal and marine habitats that support a diverse marine ecosystem and a tourism-based economy. The trap removal data collected will help National Park and Sanctuary management better understand the magnitude and sources of debris in these protected areas.
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Gloucester Point, VA
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This project is supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program with funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.