NOAA Marine Debris Program and Derelict Traps and Pots
Background | Partners | Benefits | Photos | Links
Background
Derelict traps and pots pose a continuing threat to species and habitat. Fisheries rules differ as to requirements for rot cord or rot panels, and these still take time to work. In the interim, and continually for those gears that don’t have this requirement, derelict taps and pots capture wildlife indiscriminately and damage habitat through crushing, reduction of light, and movement.
The MDP is currently engaged in several projects across the country to determine the overall impacts of derelict pots and traps to NOAA Trust Resources. These projects are focused on lobster pots in Massachusetts and Florida, fish traps in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Dungeness Crab pots in and around Juneau, Alaska. Assessment projects have already been completed for Blue Crab traps in Chesapeake Bay, and Dungeness crab pots in Puget Sound, Washington. In June 2009, the MDP held a workshop on methods for detecting derelict pots and assessing their impacts. The results of this workshop can be found here.
Partners
- NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science
- NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center
- NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
- NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
Benefits
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Understanding the impacts of derelict traps and pots to target and non-target species, so that this information can then be used by fishery managers.
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Understanding the impacts of derelict traps and pots to habitat, so that derelict fishing gear can be considered when looking at damaged habitat for restoration purposes.
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Understanding how derelict fishing gear is impacting an ecosystem.
Photos
Derelict traps and rope removed from the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Credit:SBNMS.
Derelict trap in the S. Atlantic Bight. Credit: NOAA SEFSC
Links
NOAA Submerged Derelict Trap Detection Methods Workshop - June 2-4, 2009; Silver Spring, MD
