Fresh from the SCDNR Office of Fisheries Management:
We need your help documenting the abundance and distribution of abandoned crab traps along our coast.
While previous outreach efforts were focused on reporting derelict traps (i.e., those that have lost their buoys), subsequent research showed that once traps have lost their buoys retrieving them is impractical, especially in deeper water. Identifying and removing abandoned traps is an effective way to prevent them from becoming derelict and continuing to “ghost fish.” To that end, we have updated a public facing reporting form to help identify and map abandoned traps specifically. Your participation will help support a new project funded by NOAA’s Marine Debris Program and ultimately inform future management of the blue crab fishery.
Please report abandoned crab traps that you observe using the linked survey or scan the QR code below. Abandoned traps can be identified if their marking buoys are heavily fouled, as in the picture below. For best results on the water, turn on location services on your phone or mobile device and include a photo of the trap. Thank you to everyone that has already contributed reports!
Important: Please do not attempt to remove abandoned crab traps yourself – tampering with commercial or recreational fishing gear is against the law.
Feel free to also pass this information along to others that you think might be interested in participating in this effort.