Crab
Trap Removal Successful
Posted:
3/3/04
The first day of Louisiana's Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program
was called a resounding success by the Louisiana Department
of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). The program opened on Saturday,
February 28 at 6:00 a.m. with volunteers descending upon the
Upper Terrebonne Bay Estuary to start reeling in and disposing
of lost or abandoned crab traps. By the end of the day, a
total of 123 volunteers in 53 boats collected 3,410 traps
as well as numerous trap lines and buoys. In addition, 15
volunteers helped dockside with the disposal. This phase of
the program within the designated closure area will continue
through 6 a.m. on March 14.
Saturday was the
first of two designated volunteer days when LDWF personnel
are on-hand to distribute supplies and assist in the collection
and disposal of the traps. Also on-hand were many of the organizers
and supporters of this program. Senator Reggie Dupre, of State
Senate District 20, which includes the area involved in this
part of the program, expressed his support. "This is
a problem that has been ongoing. I'm glad to see we are tackling
it and getting all of these groups together. It's fantastic."
In addition to
numerous LDWF Marine Fisheries personnel, volunteers came
from a diverse group of state agencies, institutions, and
organizations from other Gulf states, including: Texas Parks
and Wildlife Department, University of Southern Mississippi
Gulf Coast Research Lab, Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission,
and Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.
Local volunteers
represented Louisiana State University Sea Grant, Coastal
Conservation Association, Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary
Program, LUMCON, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Louisiana Department of Education, Louisiana
Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Marine Corps, University
of New Orleans, Terrebonne High School, H.L. Bourgeois High
School, and Lafourche Parish Coastal Zone Management. Many
other individuals including recreational fishermen also participated.
Commercial crab
fishermen were also very involved. Several members of the
Louisiana Crab Task Force along with another commercial crabber
from the Pointe-aux-Chenes community, collected 690 traps
using two boats. Five other commercial crab fishermen in boats
also helped to retrieve traps.
Mike Liffmann of
Louisiana Sea Grant was encouraged by all of the cooperation.
"It's not often you see crabbers, sportfishermen, federal
and state agencies all working together so well. We all have
environmental conservation as a common denominator and it
was very good to see everyone come together on this project.
Hopefully this will lead to future cooperation."
The collection
of derelict traps was only part of the process. As the traps
were brought back to the designated collection sites, they
were compacted and placed in disposal receptacles. Volunteers
used modified log-splitters to help speed the process. According
to LDWF Biologist Supervisor and Project Coordinator Vince
Guillory, success exceeded expectations. "Department
employees and volunteers at the Pointe-aux-Chenes disposal
site collected so many traps that all available receptacles
were filled by noon and the remaining traps had to be piled
next to the dock."
With over 3,400
traps collected in its first day, the Louisiana program outperformed
similar initiatives in neighboring states. Guillory hopes
that the success continues. "While the first day was
very successful, the job remains unfinished and many derelict
traps remain in the water. We would like to remind everyone
that another volunteer day is planned for this Saturday, March
6. Department employees will again be available to distribute
supplies, to assist volunteers and to collect data."
The next planned
phase of the program is set for western Vermilion Bay. A nine
or 14-day closure is being discussed that would include the
opening of the spring inshore shrimp season in Vermillion
Bay.
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