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2014 Texas Crab Trap Removal Program

By February 7, 2014Events, News

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Crab Trap Removal Program runs from Feb 21-March 2. During this 10-day period, all Texas bays will be closed to crabbing with wire mesh crab traps.  Any traps left in the bay will be assumed abandoned and considered “litter” under state law. This allows volunteers to legally remove any crab traps they find.
 
Volunteers are needed to assist in the coast-wide effort to remove the numerous traps that have been lost or abandoned since last year’s cleanup.  To facilitate volunteer trap removal efforts this year, TPWD will provide trap drop-off sites at several locations in each major bay system along the coast from 8 a.m. to noon on Feb. 22, weather permitting.  Additionally 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. 22 or work at their own pace anytime during the closure, but traps cannot be removed prior to Feb. 21 or after March 2.

To participate, volunteers may pick up free tarps, gloves, trap hooks and additional information at their local TPWD Coastal Fisheries field stations. TPWD requests that volunteers who remove traps record and submit information about the number of traps they collect as well as documenting any sightings of diamondback terrapins.

All other legal means of crabbing will not be affected during the closure period for wire crab traps. For more information, contact your local TPWD Coastal Fisheries office or Art Morris at the Corpus Christi field station, (361) 825-3356 or crabtrap@tpwd.texas.gov

Trap Drop-off Sites

Sabine Lake

Local TPWD coordinator Jerry Mambretti (409) 983-1104 (Ext. 222)

  • Pleasure Island Marina Boat Ramp

Galveston Bay

Local TPWD coordinator Bill Balboa (281) 534-0110

  • Jones Lake State Ramp (Fat Boys) — Facilitated by NRG Energy and the Galveston Bay Foundation
  • Seabrook SH 146 Bridge Public Boat Ramp
  • Fort Anahuac County Park Boat Ramp — Facilitated by Galveston Bay Foundation
  • Chocolate Bayou State Boat Ramp- FM 2004

Matagorda Bay

Local TPWD coordinator Leslie Hartman (361) 972-6253

  • Mitchell Cut Boat (ICWW) Ramp at Sargent
  • Matagorda Harbor at Matagorda
  • Railroad Park at Palacios

San Antonio Bay

Local TPWD coordinator Norman Boyd (361) 983-4425

  • Charlie’s Bait Stand
  • Port O’Connor TPWD Docks

Aransas Bay

Local TPWD coordinator Emma Clarkson (361) 729-5429

  • Goose Island State Park Boat Ramp
  • North Cove Harbor Boat Ramp

Corpus Christi Bay

Local TPWD coordinator Tom Wagner (361) 729-2328

  • Marinaville (Nueces Bay) Boat Ramp
  • Port Aransas Public Boat Ramp

Upper Laguna Madre

Local TPWD coordinator Faye Grubbs (361) 825-3353

  • Bluff’s Landing Marina
  • Kaufer Park Boat Ramp

Lower Laguna Madre

Local TPWD coordinator Mark Lingo (956) 350-4490

  • Adolfe Thomae County Park at Arroyo City
  • Port Mansfield Navigation District Ramp at Port Mansfield

 

For additional information, go to: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20140206a

Please contact your local TPWD Coastal Fisheries Division office for details on how you can help, or email crabtrap@tpwd.texas.gov.

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