16-26-MMS| April 20, 2016
BILOXI, Miss. – A total of 2,530 derelict crab traps were removed during the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources’ Blue Crab Restoration Program.
The program was held April 12-14, 2016, and the crab traps were recycled at Owens scrap-metal facility in Ocean Springs.
A total of 53 registered commercial crab fishermen participated in the program. Traps were dropped off at three designated sites along the Coast: Bayou Caddy Marina (1,518 traps); River Park in Pascagoula (606 traps) and Ocean Springs Harbor (406 traps).
The 2016 segment of the Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program was funded using disaster money received from NOAA after the 2011 opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway.
Since the program’s inception in 2000, fishermen have removed and recycled more than 21,500 derelict crab traps from Mississippi waters.
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is dedicated to enhancing, protecting and conserving marine interests of the state by managing all marine life, public trust wetlands, adjacent uplands and waterfront areas to provide for the optimal commercial, recreational, educational and economic uses of these resources consistent with environmental concerns and social changes. Visit the DMR online at dmr.ms.gov.
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