Thousands of fishing traps are lost each year in U.S. waters. These derelict traps continue "ghost fishing" and catch fish, crabs, and other species such as turtles, which results in losses to habitat, fisheries, and the watermen who depend on the resources - losses that are largely preventable, according to a new NOAA paper in the Marine Pollution Bulletin. 

The paper looks at the results of seven NOAA-funded studies in different fisheries across the U.S., and compares the severity of the problem, and common management challenges across the regions. It also reports certain findings from the studies for the first time in peer-reviewed literature, such as estimates of derelict trap numbers and how long they remain in the environment. 

Traps degrade quickly in the water. This derelict blue crab trap is fouled after five months in the Chesapeake Bay. Credit: NOAA

"Before this report, the marine debris community lacked comparable data on derelict traps," said Courtney Arthur, research specialist for NOAA's Marine Debris Program and lead author of the study. "We had different pieces of information, but not a whole picture. This paper connects those pieces and identifies areas where we need to focus our efforts."

"People may not realize that derelict traps can catch not just the target species of the fishery, but also other animals including threatened and endangered species where populations are already very low. Derelict traps can also harm sensitive habitats like coral reefs and salt marsh so they have a bigger impact than might be anticipated," said Ariana Sutton-Grier, Ph.D., NOAA's National Ocean Service ecosystem science adviser and co-author of the study.

Researchers concluded that derelict traps have a cumulative, measurable impact which should be considered in fishery management decisions. They identified several key gaps in research and suggested a management strategy that emphasizes a collaborative approach, including:

• studying how derelict traps and ghost fishing affect fishery stocks and the fishing economy

• involving the fishing industry in collaborative projects to find solutions to ghost fishing
• examining the regional challenges to derelict traps to find effective policy solutions to manage, reduce, and prevent gear loss

"By providing this comprehensive study, we allow resource managers to make more informed decisions that make sense for them and for the fishing industry," said Holly Bamford, Ph.D., assistant NOAA administrator for the National Ocean Service and a co-author of the report. "Marine debris is a continued threat to resilient ecosystems and navigation safety, and by working together we can find better solutions to keep coastal communities, economies and ecosystems healthy."

A derelict lobster trap in Florida. Credit: NOAA