Louisiana Sea Grant College Program, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
Louisiana Sea Grant College Program, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
Mar Pollut Bull. 2014 Feb 15;79(1-2):261-7. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.12.002. Epub 2013 Dec 18.
Derelict crab traps impact the coastal ecosystem through continued catch of target species and species of conservation, economic, or recreational importance. During volunteer-supported crab trap cleanups in 2012 and 2013, we quantified ghost fishing activity in derelict crab traps in coastal Louisiana through a citizen scientist program. Volunteers removed 3607 derelict traps during these events, and over 65% of traps analyzed by citizen scientists were actively ghost fishing. Additionally, volunteers identified 19 species enmeshed in derelict traps, including a combination of fresh and saltwater species. We also detected a significant difference in the number of blue crab in actively ghost fishing derelict traps across removal locations with estimated catches varying between 2.4 and 3.5 crabs/trap. Our instantaneous estimates of ghost fishing activity are greater than those previously thought in Louisiana, further justifying current derelict crab trap prevention and removal extension and outreach programs in Louisiana and throughout the Gulf of Mexico.
废弃的蟹笼通过持续捕获目标物种和具有保护、经济或娱乐价值的物种，对沿海生态系统造成影响。在 2012 年和 2013 年的志愿者支持的蟹笼清理活动中，我们通过一个公民科学家计划量化了路易斯安那州沿海废弃蟹笼中的幽灵捕捞活动。志愿者在这些活动中移除了 3607 个废弃蟹笼，超过 65%的被公民科学家分析的蟹笼正在进行幽灵捕捞。此外，志愿者在废弃的蟹笼中发现了 19 种被缠住的物种，包括淡水和咸水物种的组合。我们还发现，在去除地点，主动幽灵捕捞的废弃蟹笼中蓝蟹的数量存在显著差异，估计捕获量在每个蟹笼 2.4 到 3.5 只之间不等。我们对幽灵捕捞活动的即时估计大于路易斯安那州以前的估计，这进一步证明了路易斯安那州和整个墨西哥湾地区目前正在进行的废弃蟹笼预防和移除延伸和外展计划是合理的。
