Derelict Crab Trap Cleanup- Bishop Harbor, 2/12

Saturday, February 12th, Bishop Harbor Boat Ramp, 8am-12pm, DERELICT CRAB TRAP CLEAN UP

This month is going to be an exciting month at Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserves where they are coordinating their first ever Derelict Crab Trap Clean Up at Bishop Harbor in Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve on Saturday, February 12th!

From FDEP:
Lost and abandoned traps have been identified as a problem in Florida's marine environment. Once traps become lost or abandoned, they may spark user conflicts, "ghost fish" (continue to trap marine organisms until traps degrade enough to allow escape), visually pollute, cause damage to sensitive habitats, and also become hazards to navigation. Per federal regulations, derelict crab traps can only be removed from state waters as part of an organized clean up event, with authorization from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). More information about Derelict Crab Traps can be found on the FWC website at http://myfwc.com/rulesandregs/SaltwaterTraps_index.htm.

The Crab Trap Clean Up will be conducted with the use of canoes, kayaks, and shallow draft vessels. The Clean Up area will include Bishop Harbor, Frog Creek, and surrounding salt water ponds. Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserves, with assistance from Tampa Bay Watch, will provide work gloves and wire cutters. We also have kayaks and canoes available for volunteers to use on a first come, first serve basis. We welcome volunteers to bring their own canoes and kayaks, however they may get a bit dirty with the nature of the work. Volunteers will need to wear grubby clothes, closed-toed shoes that you do not mind getting wet, and brink drinking water.

If you are available or think you might be available for any of the following days, please reply to me with "Maybe", "Probably" or "Definitely" and the number of people in your party (please indicate if any participants are minors). I will then put you on the schedule for each day and contact you about specifics a week or so before the event. If you are part of a group, we can coordinate to plan an activity on a date and time that works best for all. All participants under 18 years of age are welcome, yet need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian (unless part of an organized group with chaperones).

Saturday, February 12th, Bishop Harbor Boat Ramp, 8am-12pm, DERELICT CRAB TRAP CLEAN UP

Hope to see you soon,
Libby Carnahan
Environmental Specialist
Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserves
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
P.O. Box 309
Terra Ceia, FL 34250
Office (941) 721-2068 ext 214