2005
Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program Set to Roll
Posted:
1/24/05
The Louisiana
Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approved the 2005 derelict
crab trap removal program, which involves temporary closures
during trap removal. In the program, the use of crab traps
within specific areas is prohibited during closure periods,
all remaining crab traps in these areas are designated as
abandoned and subject to removal, allowing individuals to
retrieve abandoned traps and bring them to designated disposal
sites. Three winter trap closures (Sabine Lake, Terrebonne
Bay estuary, and Breton Sound estuary) and one spring closure
(Vermilion Bay/West Cote Blanche Bay) are planned for 2005.
These trap removal regulations do not provide authorization
for public access to private property; authorization to access
private property can only be provided by individual landowners.
During
the Sabine Lake closure, the use of crab traps will be prohibited
for a 10-day period from 6:00 a.m., February 18, 2005 through
6:00 a.m. February 27, 2005 within that portion of Cameron
Parish as described below:
From a
point originating at the intersection of the southern side
of LA Highway 82 and the eastern shore of Sabine Lake, thence
north along the eastern shoreline of Sabine Lake to its intersection
with East Pass, thence due north to Sabine Island, thence
west along the southern shoreline of Sabine Island to its
westward most point, thence due west to the Texas state line,
thence south along the Louisiana / Texas state line to its
intersection with LA Highway 82, thence east along the southern
side of LA Highway 82 and terminating at its intersection
with the eastern shore of Sabine Lake.
The Sabine
Lake closure will occur in conjunction with a similar closure
on the Texas portion of Sabine Lake that was authorized by
the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department personnel will also provide disposal sites in Texas.
During
the Terrebonne Bay estuary closure, the use of crab traps
will be prohibited for a 16-day period from 6:00 a.m., March
5, 2005 through 6:00 a.m. March 20, 2005 within that portion
of Terrebonne Parish as described
below:
From a point originating at the intersection of LA Highway
57 and Dulac Canal, thence east along LA Highway 57 to its
intersection with LA 56, thence due east to the western shoreline
of Bayou Little Caillou, thence north along the western shoreline
of Bayou Little Caillou to its intersection with Lapeyrouse
Canal, thence east along the northern shoreline of Lapeyrouse
Canal to its intersection with Bayou Terrebonne, thence south
along the eastern shoreline of Bayou Terrebonne to its intersection
with Seabreeze Pass, thence southwest to channel marker number
17 of the Houma Navigation Canal (Lat. 29 degrees 11 minutes
11.3 seconds N., Long. 90 degrees 36 minutes 44.5 seconds
W.), thence southwest to the northern most point on Pass la
Poule Island (Lat. 29 degrees 08 minutes 33.5 seconds N.,
Long. 90 degrees 39 minutes 01.3 seconds W.), thence west
to Bayou Sale channel marker (Lat. 29 degrees 06 minutes 31.8
seconds N., Long. 90 degrees 44 minutes 34.2 seconds W.),
thence north to the western shoreline of Bayou Sale, thence
north along the western shoreline of Bayou Sale to its intersection
with Four Point Bayou, thence north along the western shoreline
of Four Point Bayou to its intersection with the Houma Navigation
Canal, thence north along the western shoreline of the Houma
Navigation Canal to its intersection with Bayou Grand Caillou,
thence north along the western shoreline of Bayou Grand Caillou
to its intersection with Dulac Canal, thence east along the
northern shoreline of Dulac Canal and terminating at its intersection
with LA Highway 57.
During
the Breton Sound estuary closure, the use of crab traps will
be prohibited for a 16-day period from 6:00 a.m., February
26, 2005 through 6:00 a.m. March 13, 2005 within that portion
of St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes as described below:
From a point originating at the intersection of LA Highway
39 and LA Highway 46, thence east along LA Highway 46 to its
intersection with LA Highway 300, thence east and then south
along LA Highway 300 to its termination, thence due south
to Bayou Terre aux Bouefs, thence east along the northern
shoreline of Bayou Terre aux Bouefs to its intersection with
the "twin pipeline", thence south along the eastern
edge of the "twin pipeline" to the eastern shoreline
of the Mississippi River, thence north along the eastern shoreline
of the Mississippi River to a point due west of the intersection
of LA Highway 39 and LA Highway 46, thence due east and terminating
at the intersection of LA Highway 39 and LA Highway 46.
All crab
traps remaining in the closed areas during the specified periods
will be considered abandoned. Crab traps may be removed only
between one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after
sunset. Anyone may be authorized to remove these abandoned
crab traps from within the closed areas. No person removing
crab traps from the designated closed areas may possess these
traps outside of the closed areas. Abandoned traps must be
brought to sites designated by the Secretary of the Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Secretary,
Dwight Landreneau, announced designated disposal sites for
each closure:
- Sabine
Lake -- Public launch at LA Highway 82.
- Terrebonne
Bay estuary -- LUMCON (on LA Hwy. 56 in Cocodrie) and Boudreaux's
Marina (at end of Four Point Road south of Dulac).
- Breton
Sound estuary -- End of the World Marina (on LA Hwy. 300
in Delacroix) and Pointe a la Hache Marina (on LA Hwy. 39
in Pointe a la Hache).
The LDWF
Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program was very successful last
year, when approximately 6,900 derelict crab traps were retrieved.
This program has been endorsed by the Louisiana Crab Task
Force, by conservation organizations such as the Barataria
- Terrebonne National Estuary Program, Coastal Conservation
Association, and Louisiana Wildlife Federation, and by Louisiana
Sea Grant and Cooperative Extension Service. These groups
participated in the 2004 program and will also assist this
year.
Louisiana's derelict crab trap removal program is volunteer-based
and cannot succeed without the continued public assistance.
It is an excellent opportunity for everyone who enjoys coastal
waters to work together and to help make a difference. Other
areas in need of a trap sweep will be selected in coming years.
All water-based
user groups, including recreational anglers, boats, waterfowl
hunters, and commercial and recreational shrimp and crab fishermen,
are encouraged to participate in the trap cleanup. Several
types of boats are needed: small shallow-draft boats and air
boats to retrieve traps, and larger mother vessels (such as
commercial crab boats) to collect traps from smaller boats.
Several
primary volunteer days will be emphasized for each of the
winter closures. These volunteer days will be on the first
two Saturdays of the each closure period: Sabine Lake, February
19 and 25; Terrebonne Bay Estuary, March 5 and March 12; and,
Breton Sound Estuary, February 26 and March 5. If a "volunteer"
day is cancelled in the Breton Sound or Terrebonne Bay closures
due to inclement weather, then the final Saturday of the closure
period will be substituted. Traps, however, may be retrieved
at other times during each closure period.
LDWF personnel
will be present at each disposal site on the designated volunteer
days beginning at 7:00 a.m. and remaining until approximately
4:00 p.m. to distribute instructions, maps, and supplies (tarps,
grappling hooks, garbage bags, and gloves) to the volunteers
and to assist with the unloading of derelict traps. First
aid kits will be available if needed.
For specific
information about each closure, please contact one of the
following individuals.
More
details, including additional regulations, maps, and instructions
for volunteers, are also available at the Derelict Crab Trap
Removal Program Web Site at http://www.derelictcrabtrap.net.
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