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CHARLESTON – South Carolina’s public crabbing season runs from Oct. 1 through May 15, putting us in prime crabbing season. However, state officials are seeking to find abandoned crab traps this season.
These abandoned crab traps could be used to help the local environment replenish more wildlife, especially oysters. When found, the discarded crab traps can also be used to purify water in local waterways.
Abandoned crabs traps in our coastal marine and estuarine habitats are responsible for so-called “ghost fishing” that causes the death of target crab species, nontarget finfish species, such as red drum and spotted seatrout, and other vulnerable species such as the diamondback terrapin.
Studies have shown that abandoned crab traps can be recovered from the environment and modified to support the development of oyster reefs. Oyster reefs provide a wide range of valuable ecosystem services by improving water quality, by providing habitat for a diverse range of finfish and invertebrates, and by protecting shorelines from erosion.
The objective of the following smart phone application is to gather detailed information on the distribution and abundance of abandoned crab traps along the South Carolina coast, in part to direct future crab trap recovery efforts.
Use the QR codes below for your iPhone to go to the app store and download this free app or visit Marine Debris Tracker app.
You can still report abandoned crab traps without a smart phone. E-mail us a brief description of the location (GPS coordinates preferred), date, and description of the condition of the crab traps (no floats, dead animals, visible only at low tide, etc.) at crabtraps@dnr.sc.gov.
For the most accurate dates on crabbing season and on crab populations, call the S.C. Department of Natural Resources at 843-953-9300.
The Link LonkFebruary 20, 2021 at 05:00AM
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SC DNR creates app to help report abandoned crab traps - Walterboro Live
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