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Crab Trap Clean Up 2012
VOLUNTEERS AND BOATS NEEDED!
Abandoned Crab Trap Removal
We need volunteers with boats to pull crab traps and individual volunteers to disassemble crab traps!
DATE: Saturday, February 18, 2012
TIME: 8:00 am to 12:00 pm
TPWD’s 10thTexas Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program runs from Feb 17-26. During the 10 day period, all Texas bays will be closed to crabbing with crab traps, and any left in the bay will be presumed to be abandoned and considered litter under state law, thus allowing volunteers to legally remove any found crab traps.
Crabbing is a multi-million dollar industry in Texas. However, lost or abandoned crab traps can cause problems for anglers and wildlife. They trap wildlife, snag fisherman’s lines, tear up boat motors, and crush fragile sea grasses that are critically important for this marine nursery. Every year, volunteers help Texas Parks and Wildlife remove the unsightly and potentially dangerous metal traps from the state’s bays. Since the programs inception in 2002, close to 30,000 derelict traps have been removed from Texas waters. Due to a general lack of resources, the state wildlife agency depends on recreational boaters, community volunteers, and conservation organizations to help with the effort.
The Houston Zoo is teaming up with the Galveston Bay Foundation and Texas Parks and Wildlife Coastal FIsheries to organize a large 3 site effort and we need your help!!!!
REMOVAL SITES:
Chocolate Bayou Boat Ramp- Come volunteer with the Houston Zoo and meet a live Diamondback terrapin too! For more information or to register contact Rachel Rommel at 713-533-6836 or rrommel@houstonzoo.org
Fort Anahuac County Boat Ramp- Volunteer with the Galveston Bay Foundation and learn about how you can preserve and protect Galveston Bay! For more information contact Julie Mintzer at 281-332-3381 X207 or to jmintzer@galvbay.org
Galveston Fat Boys Ramp- Volunteer with TPWD Coastal Fisheries by contacting Mike Stahl at 281-534-0110 Mike.Stahl@tpwd.state.tx.us.
Volunteers enter for a chance to win great prizes such as a Behind the Scenes Tour at the Houston Zoo, a Family Membership, gas cards and free Zoo passes!
We are currently seeking partners and collaborators for this public clean up and awareness day at Chocolate Bayou. To make this a successful event we desperately need volunteers with appropriate boats, in-kind donations and services, and sponsorships to cover expenses for this effort.
Can't volunteer for the clean up? Please make a donation to help us purchase supplies for the event like tarps, gloves, waders and crab hooks. You can help us keep our waterways clean and safe for people and wildlife!
If you would like to help our effort by donating, please contact Rachel Rommel at 713-533-6836 or rrommel@houstonzoo.org Thank you!
