General Media Contacts: (Business Hours) Kristen Everett, (512) 389-4406, kristen.everett@tpwd.state.tx.us
Media Contact for This Release: Steve Lightfoot, (512) 389-4701, steve.lightfoot@tpwd.state.tx.us
Oct. 13, 2003
Hearings Set About Proposed Closure for Crab Trap Cleanup
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is looking to standardize its annual closure of Texas coastal waters for crab trap removal.
A series of public meetings are slated during October to present the agency's proposal to close crabbing with traps on the third Friday of February each year for 10 days to facilitate removal of the lost and abandoned crab traps.
The Texas Legislature has deemed crab traps left in the coastal waters of Texas during a closed season as litter that may be picked up and disposed of by any citizen (i.e., the pickup authority is no longer restricted to law enforcement personnel during portions of that closed season).
Previously, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission has annually adopted specific closing and reopening dates, establishing a closed season for the use of crab traps. If this proposal is adopted, annual Commission action to set specific closure dates for future closed seasons would no longer be required.
The proposal follows successful volunteer cleanup efforts during the past two years that resulted in the removal of almost 12,000 abandoned crab traps from Texas bays.
The public is invited to comment about the proposed closure at any of the following public meetings. All meetings are 7-9 p.m.
 | Oct. 22 — Seadrift Community Center, 501 South Main, Seadrift |
| Oct. 22 — Oak Island Community Center, 1126 West Bayshore Road, Anahuac |
| Oct. 23 — Bay City Service Center, 2105 Ave M, Bay City |
"Based on the number of traps removed during the previous two attempts in 2002 and 2003, we estimated that over 18,000 organisms were saved, not counting what would have perished had the traps remained in the water," said Art Morris, fishery outreach specialist and trap removal program coordinator with TPWD's Coastal Fisheries Division. "Twenty-two different marine species have been observed in these traps over the past two years, and many are important to recreational and commercial interests, including blue crabs, stone crabs and a variety of sportfish species."
In addition to the organisms recovered and released, TPWD estimates a significant amount of crabs were saved with the removal of traps lacking a required biodegradable panel. Studies from Louisiana indicate an average loss of 26 crabs per trap during a year when degradable panels are not installed.
"Based on just what we observed this past February, more than 68,000 crabs were saved due to the removal of these abandoned traps," said Morris. "This program directly benefits crab fishermen, the general public and the resource by wasting fewer crabs and other organisms. If you figure an average weight of a half-pound per crab, the direct benefit from the previous two cleanups was 100,000 additional pounds of crabs that were available for harvest after the cleanups."
Written comments about the proposal may be submitted to Robin Riechers, Coastal Fisheries Division, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744; (512) 389-4645 or (800) 792-1112 extension 4645; or by e-mail at robin.riechers@tpwd.state.tx.us no later than Nov. 1. Comments may also be submitted orally at public hearings that are scheduled around the state.
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