NEWSROOM
2005
Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program Set to Roll
January 24, 2005
The Louisiana
Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approved the 2005 derelict crab
trap removal program, which involves temporary closures during
trap removal. In the program, the use of crab traps within specific
areas is prohibited during closure periods, all remaining crab
traps in these areas are designated as abandoned and subject to
removal, allowing individuals to retrieve abandoned traps and
bring them to designated disposal sites. Three winter trap closures
(Sabine Lake, Terrebonne Bay estuary, and Breton Sound estuary)
and one spring closure (Vermilion Bay/West Cote Blanche Bay) are
planned for 2005. These trap removal regulations do not provide
authorization for public access to private property; authorization
to access private property can only be provided by individual
landowners.
During the
Sabine Lake closure, the use of crab traps will be prohibited
for a 10-day period from 6:00 a.m., February 18, 2005 through
6:00 a.m. February 27, 2005 within that portion of Cameron Parish
as described below:
From a point
originating at the intersection of the southern side of LA Highway
82 and the eastern shore of Sabine Lake, thence north along the
eastern shoreline of Sabine Lake to its intersection with East
Pass, thence due north to Sabine Island, thence west along the
southern shoreline of Sabine Island to its westward most point,
thence due west to the Texas state line, thence south along the
Louisiana / Texas state line to its intersection with LA Highway
82, thence east along the southern side of LA Highway 82 and terminating
at its intersection with the eastern shore of Sabine Lake.
The Sabine
Lake closure will occur in conjunction with a similar closure
on the Texas portion of Sabine Lake that was authorized by the
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department personnel will also provide disposal sites in Texas.
During the
Terrebonne Bay estuary closure, the use of crab traps will be
prohibited for a 16-day period from 6:00 a.m., March 5, 2005 through
6:00 a.m. March 20, 2005 within that portion of Terrebonne Parish
as described
below:
From a point
originating at the intersection of LA Highway 57 and Dulac Canal,
thence east along LA Highway 57 to its intersection with LA 56,
thence due east to the western shoreline of Bayou Little Caillou,
thence north along the western shoreline of Bayou Little Caillou
to its intersection with Lapeyrouse Canal, thence east along the
northern shoreline of Lapeyrouse Canal to its intersection with
Bayou Terrebonne, thence south along the eastern shoreline of
Bayou Terrebonne to its intersection with Seabreeze Pass, thence
southwest to channel marker number 17 of the Houma Navigation
Canal (Lat. 29 degrees 11 minutes 11.3 seconds N., Long. 90 degrees
36 minutes 44.5 seconds W.), thence southwest to the northern
most point on Pass la Poule Island (Lat. 29 degrees 08 minutes
33.5 seconds N., Long. 90 degrees 39 minutes 01.3 seconds W.),
thence west to Bayou Sale channel marker (Lat. 29 degrees 06 minutes
31.8 seconds N., Long. 90 degrees 44 minutes 34.2 seconds W.),
thence north to the western shoreline of Bayou Sale, thence north
along the western shoreline of Bayou Sale to its intersection
with Four Point Bayou, thence north along the western shoreline
of Four Point Bayou to its intersection with the Houma Navigation
Canal, thence north along the western shoreline of the Houma Navigation
Canal to its intersection with Bayou Grand Caillou, thence north
along the western shoreline of Bayou Grand Caillou to its intersection
with Dulac Canal, thence east along the northern shoreline of
Dulac Canal and terminating at its intersection with LA Highway
57.
During the
Breton Sound estuary closure, the use of crab traps will be prohibited
for a 16-day period from 6:00 a.m., February 26, 2005 through
6:00 a.m. March 13, 2005 within that portion of St. Bernard and
Plaquemines Parishes as described below:
From a point
originating at the intersection of LA Highway 39 and LA Highway
46, thence east along LA Highway 46 to its intersection with LA
Highway 300, thence east and then south along LA Highway 300 to
its termination, thence due south to Bayou Terre aux Bouefs, thence
east along the northern shoreline of Bayou Terre aux Bouefs to
its intersection with the "twin pipeline", thence south
along the eastern edge of the "twin pipeline" to the
eastern shoreline of the Mississippi River, thence north along
the eastern shoreline of the Mississippi River to a point due
west of the intersection of LA Highway 39 and LA Highway 46, thence
due east and terminating at the intersection of LA Highway 39
and LA Highway 46.
All crab traps
remaining in the closed areas during the specified periods will
be considered abandoned. Crab traps may be removed only between
one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Anyone
may be authorized to remove these abandoned crab traps from within
the closed areas. No person removing crab traps from the designated
closed areas may possess these traps outside of the closed areas.
Abandoned traps must be brought to sites designated by the Secretary
of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Secretary, Dwight
Landreneau, announced designated disposal sites for each closure:
- Sabine
Lake — Public launch at LA Highway 82.
- Terrebonne
Bay estuary — LUMCON (on LA Hwy. 56 in Cocodrie) and Boudreaux's
Marina (at end of Four Point Road south of Dulac).
- Breton
Sound estuary — End of the World Marina (on LA Hwy. 300
in Delacroix) and Pointe a la Hache Marina (on LA Hwy. 39 in
Pointe a la Hache).
The LDWF Derelict
Crab Trap Removal Program was very successful last year, when
approximately 6,900 derelict crab traps were retrieved. This program
has been endorsed by the Louisiana Crab Task Force, by conservation
organizations such as the Barataria - Terrebonne National Estuary
Program, Coastal Conservation Association, and Louisiana Wildlife
Federation, and by Louisiana Sea Grant and Cooperative Extension
Service. These groups participated in the 2004 program and will
also assist this year.
Louisiana's
derelict crab trap removal program is volunteer-based and cannot
succeed without the continued public assistance. It is an excellent
opportunity for everyone who enjoys coastal waters to work together
and to help make a difference. Other areas in need of a trap sweep
will be selected in coming years.
All water-based
user groups, including recreational anglers, boats, 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 air boats to
retrieve traps, and larger mother vessels (such as commercial
crab boats) to collect traps from smaller boats.
Several primary
volunteer days will be emphasized for each of the winter closures.
These volunteer days will be on the first two Saturdays of the
each closure period: Sabine Lake, February 19 and 25; Terrebonne
Bay Estuary, March 5 and March 12; and, Breton Sound Estuary,
February 26 and March 5. If a "volunteer" day is cancelled
in the Breton Sound or Terrebonne Bay closures due to inclement
weather, then the final Saturday of the closure period will be
substituted. Traps, however, may be retrieved at other times during
each closure period.
LDWF personnel
will be present at each disposal site on the designated volunteer
days beginning at 7:00 a.m. and remaining until approximately
4:00 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 be available if needed.
For specific
information about each closure, please contact one of the following
individuals.
More details,
including additional regulations, maps, and instructions for volunteers,
are also available at the Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program Web
Site at http://www.derelictcrabtrap.net.
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