Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program

Overview

Abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear – known as ghost gear – persists in the environment for many years, continuing to unintentionally entangle, trap, and kill marine life such as sea turtles, mammals, seabirds, and fish and shellfish. Ghost fishing is a major threat to biodiversity, damages habitats, causes economic loss from disrupted fishing activities, and can pose a danger to boats and other marine traffic.

Volunteers help collect, unload, and count traps. Texas Sea Grant teams up with partner organization San Antonio Bay Partnership for the crab trap removal. Other partners that are instrumental in coordinating this effort and recruiting volunteers throughout the coast include the Matagorda Bay Foundation, Lavaca Bay Foundation, Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve, and Galveston Bay Foundation. Volunteers from a number of other local organizations, such as the Texas Master Naturalists, Coastal Conservation Association, TPWD, Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program, and many more also dedicate their time to the crab trap removal program.

If you are interested in volunteering for the next crab trap cleanup, contact a partner organization in your area from the list below:

• San Antonio Bay Partnership
• Lavaca Bay Foundation
• Matagorda Bay Foundation
• Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve
• Galveston Bay Foundation
• TPWD Field Stations (Sabine Lake, Galveston Bay, Matagorda Bay, San Antonio Bay, Aransas Bay & Corpus Christi Bay, Upper Laguna Madre, Lower Laguna Madre): contact information listed here

Partners

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
San Antonio Bay Partnership
Lavaca Bay Foundation
Matagorda Bay Foundation
Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve
Galveston Bay Foundation