Feb. 3, 2003

Second Crab Trap Cleanup Effort Set

AUSTIN, Texas -- Despite collecting more than 8,000 lost and abandoned crab traps from Texas bays last February, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials say another round of cleanups is warranted.

Volunteers are needed to assist in a coast-wide effort to remove the many thousands of wire mesh cages used to catch crabs that have been lost or abandoned since last year's cleanup.

State game wardens pick up more than 2,500 traps annually, yet there are many more still in the water to foul shrimpers' nets, snag fishermen's lines and create an unsightly view of Texas shores. During last year's cleanup, Galveston Bay alone coughed up 3,214 abandoned traps.

Prior to the 77th Legislature of Texas authorizing an abandoned crab trap removal program, only the trap's owner or a TPWD game warden could legally remove a crab trap. To address this again in 2003, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission voted to close crabbing in Texas waters from Feb. 15 to March 2 of this year for another crab trap cleanup.

"There are a lot of traps on the bottom of the bays and the folks who usually find them didn't want to. They are often shrimpers whose nets get caught on them or recreational boaters whose motors get tangled in them," Hal Osburn, TPWD director of Coastal Fisheries, explained. "Not to mention the loss of organisms wasted each year due to the ghost fishing effects of these traps."

During the first seven days of the crab season closure, only TPWD game wardens will be collecting abandoned traps. After that, the traps will be defined as litter and can be removed by anyone. All traps picked up as litter must be disposed of properly and cannot be reused.

TPWD will be facilitating volunteer trap removal efforts on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 16 locations coast-wide, weather permitting. In case of inclement weather, the event will be postponed until the next available weekend day, but can not occur after March 2. Last year, 554 volunteers and 228 vessels participated in the cleanup along with numerous sponsors.

"Last year's effort is a strong indication of the wonderful resource conservation ethics that the public has about protecting Texas' bays and estuaries," said Art Morris, program coordinator with TPWD, "this year's volunteer and sponsor participation is shaping up to be just as big as last year, but we still need all the volunteers we can get, especially in Galveston, Matagorda and San Antonio Bays."

Morris noted that individuals that conduct cleanups on days other than TPWD facilitated cleanup dates will have to make their own arrangements for trap disposal but can contact a local coordinator for assistance.

Following is a site list of TPWD staff facilitated locations where traps can be dropped off during the cleanup. Each site will be manned by TPWD staff from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Disposal facilities will be provided at each site on the day of the cleanup. For those who choose to work on their own, TPWD requests information about the number of traps that they collect.

To volunteer or for more information contact one of the local coordinators Art Morris in Corpus Christi at (361) 825-3356 or Bobby Miller in Dickinson at (281) 534-0110. This year's effort is underwritten in part by Anheuser-Busch Inc.

Crab Trap Cleanup Collection Sites

Aransas Bay -- Local TPWD coordinator Karen Meador (361) 729-2328

Corpus Christi Bay -- Local TPWD coordinator Paul Choucair (361) 729-2328

Galveston Bay -- Local TPWD coordinator Rebecca Hensley (281) 534-0108

Lower Laguna Madre -- Local TPWD coordinator Randy Blankinship (956) 350-4490

Matagorda Bay -- Local TPWD coordinator Bill Balboa (361) 972-6253

Sabine Lake -- Local TPWD coordinator Jerry Mambretti (409) 983-1104

San Antonio Bay -- Local TPWD coordinator Norman Boyd (361) 983-4425

Upper Laguna Madre -- Local TPWD coordinator Kyle Spiller (361) 825-3353