Proceedings of the Untangled symposium: - WSPA

Annex 4Submitted abstracts accompanyingposter presentationsReducing by-catch mortality in trap fisheries withbiodegradable componentsKirk J. Havens, Donna Marie Bilkovic, David Stanhope,Kory AngstadtCenter for Coastal Resources ManagementVirginia Institute of Marine Science, College of Williamand Mary, Post Office Box 1346, Gloucester Point,Virginia 23062, USstanhope@vims.eduFishing traps are designed to catch fish or crustaceansand are used globally. In the United States, trapfisheries lose an estimated 20% of their deployed trapsannually; world-wide loss estimates are between 10%-70% annually. Most of these traps are constructed ofplastic coated wire, stainless steel wire or are entirelyconstructed of plastic allowing the traps to catch targetand non-target species for several years when lost.Continual removal of derelict traps is expensive andimpractical over large spatial areas; modifications areneeded to disarm the gear once it is lost. Many Statesin the U.S.A. have had escape methods in regulationsfor years and have found them to be ineffective dueto the design and/ or the material used. With new fullydegradable, marine safe polymers available we havetested biodegradable panels that allow traps, oncelost, to become disarmed and, in some cases, providepotential habitat. The panels are inexpensive, designedto last variable time periods, and degrade into carbondioxide and water leaving no harmful microplastics. Wehave developed and tested bio panels in the blue crabfishery, which have been shown to have no effect onthe blue crab catch rates. During the four year winterBlue crab trap removal program in the Chesapeake Bayover 32,000 traps were removed, in addition to crabs,by-catch included muskrats, turtles, diving ducks andover 30 species of fish. We are currently developing andtesting panels for the Stone and Dungeness crab andSpiny and American lobster fisheries.Removal of derelict blue crab, stone crab, and spinylobster traps in FloridaKyle P. MillerFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionDivision of Marine Fisheries Management, 2590Executive Center Circle E. Suite 201, Tallahassee,Florida 32301, USAKyle.Miller@MyFWC.comDerelict traps and their associated buoy lines arepotential entanglement hazards for marine animalsin Florida, and entanglements of marine turtles andcorals have been observed during derelict trap removaloperations. Efforts to remove derelict blue crab,stone crab, and spiny lobster traps in Florida includeannual state supervised trap retrieval programs, andauthorized volunteer derelict trap cleanup events. Understate supervised trap retrieval programs, commercialfishermen are compensated to find, remove, and disposeof traps that are left in the water during the closed fishingseason(s). Owners of commercial traps removed bythese trap retrieval programs are assessed a $10 retrievalfee for each trap removed, which must be paid in fullbefore the owner may renew their commercial saltwaterfishing licenses. The trap retrieval programs are fundedby a dedicated portion of license fees paid on eachcommercial blue crab, stone crab, and spiny lobstertrapping license issued, as well as retrieval fees collectedfrom the prior year. Volunteer derelict trap cleanup eventsremove derelict traps and trap debris from shallowestuaries, bays, and other coastal waterways during theopen or closed fishing season(s) with prior authorizationfrom the state. These events are typically locallyorganized and promoted, and focus on specific areas. Onaverage, approximately 5,000 derelict traps are removedannually, and approximately 20,000 traps have beenremoved since 2009, when the first blue crab trap fisheryclosures were implemented.46