Every year, thousands of people go crabbing for fun in the Delaware Bay. Whether they’re just setting a single trap once or are out on the water daily, many folks enjoy trying to catch some crabs for dinner. Unfortunately, whether from neglect or simple forgetfulness, not all those crab pots get picked up.

These forgotten or abandoned traps can be hazards, both to boaters and, more crucially, to wildlife.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Delaware Sea Grant and the University of Delaware have been partnering for several years to clean up derelict pots, including holding an annual event aimed at finding and removing these hazards.

“The problem with abandoned pots is the fact that they will continue to keep harvesting and they will do what’s known as self-baiting. So, as a crab dies, something else goes in and eats it, and now they’re trapped in it and then they die,” said Kathleen Bergin, a program manager in the DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship.

In some cases, the cycle of marine wildlife becoming trapped and dying in a cage ends only when the metal wiring basically disintegrates due to corrosion. Some of the species most frequently found in old pots as victims of “ghost fishing” are blue crabs, oyster toadfish and diamondback terrapins.

Research from the University of Delaware concluded a single derelict crab pot costs the state $2.34 per day, or about $281 over a four-month seasonal window (May through August). That adds up!

Abandoned pots are especially common in the Inland Bays and in the first mile or two offshore in the Delaware Bay. Delaware Sea Grant estimates there are roughly 30,000 abandoned crab pots in the Inland Bays, an area approximately 30 square miles in size.

In addition to potential damage to boats if a line gets tangled in a propeller, the pots disrupt the marine habitat. Because derelict traps aren’t tied down, they can get dragged across the seabed, ripping up vegetation and disturbing shellfish and bottom-feeders.

Crab pots can become abandoned in a variety of ways, not just through willing neglect by the owner. The line attached to the buoy marking where a pot sits underwater can snap if another boat runs over it. Storm damage can break the line as well.

In many cases, a pot is left behind simply because the owner cannot remember where it was.

“Often visitors will throw out five pots, and if they find three they think that’s a great day,” Bergin said.

DNREC’s Delaware Natural Resources Police does have the ability to enforce violations against owners of abandoned crab pots if the traps can be traced back to an individual or business.

While many pots come equipped with bycatch reduction devices designed to prevent overcatching and minimize inadvertent environmental harm, not all crabbers use them. Even traps that have these precautions can still cause ghost fishing as the devices deteriorate over time.

DNREC received a federal grant to locate and remove old pots in the Delaware Bay in 2016, the first large-scale marine debris removal effort there.

Delaware Sea Grant is a significant driving force in this initiative, launching the first mission in 2020. It works closely with DNREC and nonprofit partners to tackle old pots, using sonar to find them in the bays. These are marked on a GPS so they can be removed at a later date.

Getting abandoned pots out of the water can be a laborious process, especially in the Delaware Bay, where the current is significantly stronger.

“In the Inland Bays you’re much more sheltered,” Bergin noted.

During a cleanup event in September, participants removed about 130 crab pots, as well as additional old remnants. Some of the less-damaged traps could be reused, while others were able to be scrapped so the metal could be utilized again.

Bergin hopes DNREC can take part in more cleanups in the future, though she noted that is largely dependent on available funding.

This problem certainly isn’t unique to Delaware. A 2016 study estimated there were at least 145,000 derelict pots in the Chesapeake Bay, with cleanup efforts resulting in an economic impact of $33.5 million for Maryland and Virginia from 2008 to 2014.

(Delaware DNREC/Lisa Moy)

Avoiding a Negative Environmental Impact While Crabbing

So, if you’re planning to go crabbing, how can you ensure you don’t leave any traps behind and thus prevent environmental harm?

Taking a GPS and waypoints is a good way to keep track of your pots. Don’t rely solely on your memory.

Individuals should also be careful about where they put their pots. Crab traps set up in main channels are more liable to have boats run over their line, and so crabbers are encouraged to avoid those heavily trafficked areas.

Don’t just reuse the same line over and over — replace it annually so it doesn’t become too degraded.

Delaware law requires crab pots be checked every three days, but Delaware Sea Grant suggests inspecting them daily to reduce the risk they get lost.

Be judicious in your use of pots, as Delaware actually limits recreational crabbers to two pots per person. Plus, putting out a bunch of pots makes it more likely at least one will get left behind.

Use bycatch reduction devices and cull rings to limit unintended catches and thus lessen any negative impact on our wildlife. Crabbers should also be sure they use non-sinking buoys (not plastic milk jugs) and rig them correctly to minimize the odds of crab pots becoming derelict. Delaware Sea Grant can help with this, as education is an important component of what the program does.

Delaware Sea Grant will even loan out sonar to boaters to search for crab pots.

Pay attention to storms when you set crab pots, and try to remove your traps ahead of violent weather. Don’t forget to label your traps either to help you identify which ones you set and which belong to others. Use a tag or etch your name in the metal.

Boaters, meanwhile, should always be vigilant when on the water. Keep your eyes peeled for buoys, and slow down and give them plenty of space if you spot one.

Related Topics:  crab pot, crabs, delaware bay, inland bays, watershed stewardship