Permitted crab trap removal program

A Crab Trap Conundrum

For decades, Coastal Wildlife Club (CWC) turtle patrollers on Manasota Key in southwest Florida have encountered crab traps washed onto nesting beaches. Some are in good condition with current permits and tags. Others are clearly trash. In neither case was it possible for patrollers to remove the traps from nesting habitat.

Touching or moving traps without authorization is a third-degree felony

(Florida Administrative Code 68-B-55)

Over the years we contacted local and state agencies for guidance regarding removal. No one provided specific information that would be helpful in addressing this problem. Traps remained on the beaches, often for years - obstructions to nesting sea turtles and to beach walkers.

a solution

At the Florida Marine Turtle Permit Holder Meeting in January 2020, in a presentation on Florida's Marine Debris Program, a permitting process was outlined authorizing legal removal of crab traps by groups such as ours.

CWC volunteers patrol about 14 miles of beach daily during turtle season. We are perfectly situated to document locations of traps and to remove them.

CWC applied for a permit for trap removal from April - October 2020. Upon approval, we established and trained our Crab Trap Removal Team, all of whom are also turtle patrollers.

Because traps wash in all year long, we quickly realized that a season permit was not sufficient. We are permitted now to remove traps year-round from the beaches and waters of Charlotte and Sarasota counties. The project is in its fifth year.

We have done public outreach to increase awareness about the project, and we have partnered with other groups to facilitate in-water removal. We have developed relationship with individuals in the crab fishing community who we contacted for the pick-up of fishable traps. We also presented a poster on this project at the 2023 South East Regional Sea Turtle Meeting (SERSTM) in Orange Beach Alabama.

To date, we have removed a total of 213 traps from local beaches: 32 traps in 2020, 74 traps in 2021, 38 traps in 2022, 27 in 2023, and 46 in 2024.

Special Thanks

Crab Trap Removal Team: Jill Auman, Jo Ellen Blake-Wingate, Lori Newton, Will Howell, Carol & Gene McCoy, Robbie & don Brooks, Doug Stone, Karen Gilbert, John Kesich, Pauline Logsdon, Helen Dumond, Judy & Ted Johnston, Norma Jean Zvosek and Wilma Katz.

AND

Staff in Charlotte & Sarasota Counties, Melanie Luce at Stump Pass Beach State Park, FWC, Division of Fisheries Management and Karen Blackford, friend of CWC.

Photo: Su Young

sometimes it's tricky

Our Mission

Clumps of traps are often deposited on the beach during a storm and can be buried in sand. Sometimes only a corner of the trap is visible! The lines can become entangled in trees and driftwood and require a lot of time and elbow grease to remove.

After a December storm, CWC volunteer Lori Newton is digging out traps with a smile.

Photo: Carol McCoy

A Reason Why

A loggerhead sea turtle crawls on the beach with a crab trap in the background. She did not nest. This is referred to as a "false crawl". Obstructions on beaches can cause entrapment and/or entanglement and deter sea turtles from nesting. A sea turtle expends a lot of energy resources to crawl on land.

Photo: Lori Newton

After Storms, Traps dot the Shoreline

CWC volunteer, John Kesich examines a stone crab trap to determine if it is debris. If the trap is fishable, CWC contacts the owner of the trap for pickup.

Photo: Emily Rizzo

Secure disposal

CWC volunteer Gene McCoy loads a heavy stone crab trap into a vehicle for transport to a secure disposal location. CWC partners with Charlotte and Sarasota counties for secure disposal locations.

Photo: Carol McCoy

Traps are Bulky

CWC volunteers Kevin Mullaney & Steve Daniel remove a blue crab trap from the sea turtle nesting habitat, a.k.a. the beach.

Photo: Wilma Katz

Traps are Heavy

Traps are weighted down with cement and are heavy. Many times it take two volunteers to safely lift and remove.

Robbie Brooks and Doug Stone remove a derelict stone crab trap from the beach.

Photo: Don Brooks

crayon repurposing

We Needed Crayons

If you need used crayons, where do you go? It seemed natural to partner with teacher. Kathleen Skavronek from Deep Creek Elementary School. She has been providing us with used crayons from the school. This is a great lesson in reusing and repurposing. Thank you Kathleen and students. Kathleen is picture in the photo holding the crayons, next to Carol McCoy, CWC volunteer.

Photo: Wilma Katz

What to do Next?

CWC has fantastic volunteers. So many of them have a multitude of crafty talents. There are many artists that sew, paint, crochet, quilt, sculpt, make jewelry, woodwork, and take fantastic photographs. All we had to do is ask and our volunteers made the new sea life crayons. Thank you to our "Crayon Crew" for making this project come to life.

Fabulous Repurposed Crayons

These buties are used in our outreach progrms. They accompany coloring/activity pages and are always well received. A special thank you to the Walton Beach Turtle Patrol for telling us where they got the molds.

Out and about with CWC - Community Outreach

Learn About Sea Turtles

Charlotte County Libraries "Under the Sea" Summer reading program event. CWC offered a table display of sea turtle information and distributed sea turtle tattoos to children and adults alike.

Seated at table: Carol Leonard and Deb Laposa

Photo: Karen Blackford

Stories and Crafts

Presenting "Born to be Wild!", a gopher tortoise program, to small children at Elsie Quirk Library.

We create custom outreach that covers all age ranges.

Dearborn Halloween Safe Walk

CWC volunteers Norma Jean, Jo Ellen and Linda handed out candy from the CWC educational table. What a great event!

CWC participates in area festivals and events such as displays and talks at area libraries, Earth Day, and other places by invitation.

Girl Scouts Earn Sea Turtle Patch

These Girl Scouts earned their official Sea Turtle Badge. After learning about how plastics are one of the threats to sea turtles, a couple of the girls were inspired to create a beach toy borrow bin at the public beach. This was for their Silver award project. Congrats

Brownie Troop 351

Brownies from Troop 351 earn sea turtle patch. They created some artwork about sea turtle threats.

Coming Soon! Turtle on Dearborn Street

CWC sponsored a turtle for the Dearborn Street Project. It will be unveiled on Dec 8.