The dates
and zones for the 4th Annual Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program
have been set for 2007. The two crab trap closures and clean-ups
will take place in portions of Barataria Bay and the Lake
Pontchartrain estuaries. In Lake Pontchartrain, the program
will run from Saturday, Feb. 24 through Sunday, March 4 overlapping
the Barataria Bay program dates of Saturday, March 3 through
Sunday, March 11.
The designated
volunteer days will be on Feb. 24 and March 3 for the Lake
Pontchartrain clean up and March 3 and March 10 for the Barataria
Bay clean up. However, traps may be retrieved at other times
during the closure period.
Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries personnel will be present
at each disposal site on designated volunteer days beginning
at 8 a.m. and remaining until approximately 4 p.m. to distribute
instructions, maps and supplies (tarps, grappling hooks, garbage
bags, and gloves) to the volunteers and to assist with the
unloading of derelict traps. First aid kits will also be available
if needed. Locations of the designated sites used for the
disposal of crab traps collected will be announced following
their approval.
All crab
traps remaining in each closure area during the closure period
will be considered abandoned and may be collected by anyone.
However, there are several restrictions that pertain to collection
of these derelict crab traps. First, crab traps may be removed
only between one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour
after sunset. Second, these abandoned crab traps may not be
possessed outside of the closure area and must be brought
to sites designated by the LDWF Secretary. These trap removal
regulations do not provide authorization for public access
to private property. Individual landowners can only provide
authorization to access private property.
The Barataria
Bay crab trap closure and clean up area includes that portion
of Lafourche, Jefferson and Plaquemines parishes as described
below:
from a
point originating from the intersection of the Gulf Intracoastal
Waterway and the northern shoreline of Hero Canal; thence
due north to a point along the northern shoreline of the Gulf
Intracoastal Waterway; thence southward and then westward
along the northern shoreline of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
to a point opposite the western shoreline of Bayou Perot;
thence due south to the western shoreline of Bayou Perot;
thence southward along the western shoreline of Bayou Perot
to Little Lake; thence southward along the western shoreline
of Little Lake to 29 degrees, 30 minutes, 00 seconds north
latitude; thence eastward along 29 degrees, 30 minutes, 00
seconds north latitude to the eastern shoreline of Wilkinson
Canal; thence northward along the eastern shoreline of Wilkinson
Canal to its termination; thence due north to the western
shore of the Mississippi River; thence northwestward along
the western shore of the Mississippi River to a point due
east of the northern shoreline of Hero Canal; thence due west
to the northern shoreline of Hero Canal; thence westward along
the northern shoreline of Hero Canal and terminating at its
intersection with the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
The Lake
Pontchartrain crab trap closure and clean up area includes
that portion of Jefferson, Orleans, St. Bernard, and St. Tammany
parishes as described below:
from a
point originating from the intersection of the Lake Pontchartrain
Causeway Bridge and the southern shoreline of Lake Pontchartrain;
thence eastward along the southern shoreline of Lake Pontchartrain
to Chef Menteur Pass; thence southward along the western shoreline
of Chef Menteur Pass to Lake Borgne; thence due south a distance
of one-half mile from the Lake Borgne shoreline; thence eastward
and then northward a distance of one-half mile from the Lake
Borgne shoreline to a point due east of Catfish Point; thence
northwesterly across Rigolets Pass to the southeastern most
point of land on Hog Island; thence westward along the northern
shoreline of Rigolets Pass to its intersection with U.S. Highway
90; thence northward along U.S. Highway 90 to its intersection
with U.S. Highway 190 (Fremaux Avenue); thence westerly along
U.S. Highway 190 to Military Road; thence northward on Military
road to U.S. Highway 190 (Gause Boulevard); thence westward
on U.S. Highway 190 (Gause Boulevard) to Causeway Boulevard;
thence southward along Causeway Boulevard and then the Lake
Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge and terminating at its intersection
with the southern shoreline of Lake Pontchartrain.
This program
has been endorsed by the Louisiana Crab Task Force, Louisiana
Sea Grant, and LSU Cooperative Extension Service and by conservation
organizations such as the Barataria - Terrebonne National
Estuary Program, Coastal Conservation Association, and Louisiana
Wildlife Federation. A diverse group of volunteers have participated,
including commercial crab fishermen, recreational fishermen,
concerned individuals, and representatives of conservation
and environmental organizations, state and federal agencies,
and universities.
Abandoned
crab trap closures and clean ups in 2004, 2005 and 2006 proved
very successful in regards to the total number of retrieved
traps, volunteer participation and acceptance by all user
groups. An overall total of 14,452 crab traps were collected;
6,894 traps during two clean ups in 2004, 4,623 during four
clean-ups in 2005, and 2,935 abandoned crab traps in one clean
up in 2006.
LDWF will
be coordinating the derelict crab trap removal efforts, but
the program is volunteer-based and cannot succeed without
continued public assistance. It is an excellent opportunity
for everyone who enjoys our coastal waters to work together
and to help make a difference. All water-based user groups,
including recreational anglers, boaters, waterfowl hunters,
and commercial and recreational shrimp and crab fishermen,
are encouraged to participate in the trap cleanup. Several
types of boats are needed: small shallow-draft boats and airboats
to retrieve traps, and larger mother vessels (such as commercial
crab boats) to collect traps from smaller boats.
Funding
for the 2007 crab trap clean is provided by increases in recreational
and commercial crab trap gear license fees statutorily dedicated
to support the abandoned crab trap removal program. The Louisiana
Crab Task Force endorsed these fee increases.
