Delaware Sea Grant schedules summer crab trap check workshops

 

This summer, Delaware Sea Grant will host several crab trap check workshops in southern Delaware geared towards recreational crabbers who catch crabs in the Delaware Inland Bays

At the events, recreational crabbers will learn about the ecological and recreational problems lost crab pots can cause for the Delaware Inland Bays, as well as have the opportunity to update their individual crab pots for free to prevent crab loss and ghost fishing.

Participants are allowed to bring two pots each and Delaware Sea Grant professionals will be on hand to add new floats, rope, cull rings and terrapin excluders as needed.

Brittany Haywood, coastal ecology specialist for Delaware Sea Grant, oversees the events and said that an important aspect is to educate the public on how to not lose their crab pots, which will not only benefit the ecology of the bays but will also help individuals keep their investments intact.

“These crab pots are not cheap and so if they're not rigged properly, people are losing money when they get lost,” said Haywood. “This is an effort not only to help from the fisheries side of things but also to help each individual person not have to spend unwanted funds.”

This project is funded by the National Sea Grant Office, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The following is a list of when and where the events will be held:  

  • Tuesday, August 13th – James Farm Crab Trap Check – 30048 Cedar Neck Road, Ocean View, DE


For individuals interested in learning more about these events, contact Haywood at haywoobl@udel.edu or (302) 831-7005.

 
Kevin Liedel