Abandoned Crab Traps: Marine Hazards on the Texas Coast
San Antonio Bay Partnership Volunteers (ICF) Removing Harmful Crab Traps
Live Fish Trapped in Derelict Crab Trap
Derelict traps become a "cycle of death" since once one organism is caught and eventually dies within the trap, other species looking for an easy meal fall into the same “trap.” This scenario can repeat as long as the trap is left in coastal waters.
Trap Removal
Texas Senate Bill 1410 created the Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program (ACTRP) in 2001. This bill granted the TPWD Commission authority to create a ten-day crab fishing closure that begins the third Friday of each February. Crab traps left in the water during this time are considered litter and may be removed from the bay. This is when SABP's volunteers spring into action. Finding and removing as many abandoned traps as possible.
Land Mines of the Sea: Abandoned Crab Traps
Ghost Fishing & Derelict Crab Traps
Did you know that hidden hazards exist along the Texas coast? If you are a fisherman, recreational boater, or someone who cares about the ecological well-being of our bays and estuaries, it's time to learn about abandoned crab traps.
Licensed and recreational crabbers use traps to capture blue crabs on the Texas coast. Unfortunately, the crabber sometimes loses or does not retrieve the traps. These abandoned traps are a significant source of mortality for marine organisms, many of which are recreationally or commercially important.
Marine Life Trapped in Abandoned Crab Traps
The Texas Mid-Coast is a focal point for a large commercial blue crab fishery. Studies have suggested that ghost fishing by derelict traps can reduce commercial crab landings by up to 27%. For San Antonio Bay, that would be a $170,000 annual revenue loss for the local region’s commercial blue crab fishery. If these traps are not removed, they continue to “ghost fish” for years. Additionally, these traps adversely affect sensitive habitats like submerged seagrasses and salt marsh vegetation. Further, the traps are navigation hazards for local boaters.
It's not just a Texas problem; it's an international issue of concern. A 2001 study suggested that “ghost fishing” kills between 4 million to 10 million blue crabs yearly in Louisiana alone! The United Arab Emirates joins Texas in mandating degradable panels in the traps to allow trapped organisms to escape after learning that nearly 300,000 traps are lost annually.
Our Accomplishments
Since 2017, SABP has been a key player in identifying and removing derelict crab traps. In 2024, 48 boats and 182 people removed 977 traps during the 10-day closure period.