Abandoned Crab Trap Drop-off Sites Announced

ent--article_ _media__contact">Media Contact: Art Morris, 361-825-3356, art.morris@tpwd.texas.gov; or Tonya Wiley, 281-534-0131, tonya.wiley@tpwd.texas.gov

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CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas—Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials today announced drop-off sites for the 8th Texas Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program, scheduled this year from Feb. 20 to March 1.

During this 10-day period, all Texas bays will be closed to crabbing with crab traps, and any traps left in the bay will be presumed to be abandoned and considered litter under state law, thus allowing volunteers to legally remove any crab traps they find.

Volunteers are needed to assist in the coast-wide effort to remove the numerous wire mesh traps that have been lost or abandoned since last year’s cleanup.

To facilitate volunteer trap removal efforts this year, TPWD will provide facilitated trap drop-off sites at several locations along the coast Saturday, Feb. 21, from 8 a.m. to noon, weather permitting. Additionally, at all sites, dumpsters marked with banners will be available to receive traps for the duration of the closure.

Volunteers can work at their own pace during the closure as time and weather permit, but traps cannot be removed prior to Feb. 20 or after March 1. Last year, volunteers, with the aid of numerous sponsors, removed more than 2,800 traps.

To participate, volunteers can arrange to pick-up free tarps, gloves, trap hooks and additional information at their local TPWD Coastal Fisheries Field Stations. TPWD requests that volunteers record and submit information about the number of traps that they collect as well as any sightings of diamondback terrapins.

For more information about the Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program and how you can volunteer, please contact your local TPWD Coastal Fisheries Office or Art Morris at the Corpus Christi Field Station: (361) 825-3356, art.morris@tpwd.texas.gov; or Tonya Wiley at the Dickinson Marine Lab: (281) 534-0131, tonya.wiley@tpwd.texas.gov.

Sabine Lake

Local TPWD coordinator Jerry Mambretti, (409) 736-9035

Texas/Louisiana Causeway Boat Ramp — Trap drop-off site Feb. 20–March 1

Galveston Bay

Local TPWD coordinator Bill Balboa, (281) 534-0110

Jones Lake State Ramp (Fat Boys) — Facilitated Feb. 21, 8 a.m.–12 noon — Trap drop-off site Feb. 20–March 1

TPWD Dickinson Marine Lab-1502 FM 517 E, Dickinson — Trap drop-off site Feb. 20 — March 1

Seabrook SH 146 Bridge Public Boat Ramp — Trap drop-off site Feb. 20–March 1

Fort Anahuac County Park Boat Ramp — Facilitated Feb. 21 8 a.m.- 12 noon — Trap drop-off site Feb. 20–March 1

Chocolate Bayou State Boat Ramp — FM 2004 — Facilitated Feb. 21 8 a.m.–12 noon — Trap drop-off site Feb. 20–March 1

Pier 30 Bait and Tackle-1617 E. Hwy 332, Freeport — Trap drop-off site Feb. 20–March 1

Matagorda Bay

Local TPWD coordinator Leslie Hartman, (361) 972-6253

Mitchell Cut Boat (ICWW) Ramp @ Sargent — Trap drop-off site Feb. 20–March 1

Matagorda Harbor @ Matagorda — Trap drop-off site Feb. 20–March 1

San Antonio Bay

Local TPWD coordinator Norman Boyd, (361) 983-4425

Charlie’s Bait Stand — Facilitated Feb. 21, 8 a.m.–12 noon — Trap drop-off site Feb. 20–March 1

Port O’Connor TPWD Docks — Facilitated Feb. 21, 8 a.m.–12 noon — Trap drop-off site Feb. 20–March 1

Aransas Bay

Local TPWD coordinator Karen Meador, (361) 729-2328

Goose Island State Park Boat Ramp — Trap drop-off site Feb. 20–March 1

North Cove Harbor Boat Ramp — Trap drop-off site Feb. 20–March 1

Corpus Christi Bay

Local TPWD coordinator Tom Wagner, (361) 729-2328

South Conn Brown Harbor Boat Ramp — Facilitated Feb. 21, 8 a.m.–12 noon — Trap drop-off site Feb. 20–March 1

Upper Laguna Madre

Local TPWD coordinator Todd Neahr, (361) 825-3353

Bluff Landing Marina — Trap drop-off site Feb. 20–March 1

Kaufer Park Boat Ramp — Trap drop-off site Feb. 20–March 1

Lower Laguna Madre

Local TPWD coordinator Mark Lingo, (956) 350-4490

Adolfe Thomae County Park @ Arroyo City — Trap drop-off site Feb. 20–March 1

Port Mansfield Navigation District Ramp @ Port Mansfield — Trap drop-off site Feb. 20–March 1

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