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Every February for the past 21 years, volunteers have answered the call to assist in collecting abandoned crab traps from Texas coastal waters – the refuse, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), snagging anglers’ lines, fouling shrimpers’ nets, and running up the tally of “ghost fish” unintentionally killed in the forgotten traps. To date, more than 40,000 abandoned crab traps have been removed from efforts of the annual event.
In Pleasure Island, the coastal waters will be closed to crabbing with wire mesh from Feb. 18 -25, while volunteers collect any traps left in bays surrounding the Port Arthur waterway. A main volunteer event on Sabine Lake is set for Saturday, Feb. 25, in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Fish and Wildlife, utilizing the Pleasure Island Marina Boat Ramp as a facilitated trap drop-off site.
At all sites, dumpsters or collection areas marked with banners will be available to receive traps for the duration of the closure. Volunteers may focus their efforts on Feb. 25, or work at their own pace anytime during the closure, but traps cannot be removed prior to Feb. 17 or after Feb. 26. Opportunities for land-based volunteers are limited.
To participate, volunteers may pick up free tarps, gloves and additional information at their local Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Coastal Fisheries field stations. TPWD requests that volunteers record and submit information about the number of traps they collect as well as sightings of diamondback terrapins. Registration with partner organizations may be required. Contact local TPWD coordinator Carey Gelpi at (409) 983-1104 (ext. 222) for more information, or to register for the event.
All other legal means of crabbing will not be affected during the closure period for wire crab traps.