Last night at the Advisory Council on Shellfisheries, Nicole Rodi gave an update on DNREC’s 2 year pilot study of derelict crab pots in the Delaware Bay. The study was conducted in a 6 mile stretch near Collins Beach. In that 6 miles they found 517 derelict crab pots. The study is done when no one is crabbing commercially, since it is out of potting season.
The pots seem to be aggregating along the shoal tip area in an average of two meters of water. Removal may not be feasible, but she asked for the help from the watermen and they had some great suggestions for removal. This project is also going to look at the inland bays as we have some serious issues down here with derelict crab pots.
This ongoing study will be interesting to follow over the next year or so. We will keep you updated.
Fish On!
Rich King