[StBernard] State plans 2013 abandoned crab trap removal in St. Bernard, Plaquemines

[Westley Annis]

State plans 2013 abandoned crab trap removal in St. Bernard, Plaquemines

NEW ORLEANS--Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting saw a
motion approved to continue the abandoned crab trap removal program for
2013. Two winter crab trap closures and clean-ups are planned for portions
of Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes on designated dates in February and
March next year.

Since 2004, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, together
with individual volunteers and organizations, has successfully removed and
disposed of over 22,200 abandoned and derelict crabs. 

The removal of these crab traps is especially important to boating safety
and crab harvesting efforts. Last year, volunteer organizations and
individual volunteers including members of the Coastal Conservation
Association and Nature Conservancy as well as volunteers from LSU, Nicholls
State, LUMCON, National Relief Network, NOAA Fisheries Service, St. Bernard
Parish Government and commercial crab and shrimp fishermen contributed to
the removal of nearly 2,800 crab traps from coastal waters.

LDWF will again partner with Louisiana Sea Grant for the 2013 crab trap
removal efforts. As the 2013 removal weekends approach, Louisiana Sea Grant
will help organize volunteers, provide educational outreach on marine
debris, as well as establish a recycling effort for crab traps.

Plaquemines Crab Trap Removal

The use of crab traps will be prohibited in the following areas beginning at
6 a.m., February 16 through 6 a.m., February 25, 2013:


>From a point originating along the eastern shore of the Mississippi River at

29 degrees 44 minutes 00 seconds north latitude; thence eastward along 29
degrees 44 minutes 00 seconds north latitude to 89 degrees 40 minutes 00
seconds west longitude; thence southward along 89 degrees 40 minutes 00
seconds west longitude to the eastern shore of the Mississippi River; thence
northward along the eastern shore of the Mississippi River terminating at
the point of beginning.

St.Bernard Crab Trap Removal

The use of crab traps will be prohibited in the following areas beginning at
6 a.m., March 9 through 6 a.m. March 18, 2013:


>From a point originating from the intersection of the northwestern shore of

Bayou Yscloskey and the southern shore of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet;
thence northward to the southwestern shore of Shell Beach Cut; thence
northward along the western shore of Shell Beach Cut to the southern shore
of Lake Borgne; thence northward a distance of one-half mile from the
southern shore of Lake Borgne; thence eastward and northward along a line
extending one-half mile offshore along the southern and western shore of
Lake Borgne to 29 degrees 58 minutes 00 seconds north latitude;thence
eastward along 29 degrees 58 minutes 00 seconds north latitude to 89 degrees
22 minutes 00 seconds west longitude; thence southward along 89 degrees 22
minutes 00 seconds west longitude to the southern shoreline of the
Mississippi River Gulf Outlet; thence westward along the southern shoreline
of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet to the eastern shore of Bayou La
Loutre; thence southward along the eastern shore of Bayou La Loutre; thence
westward along the southern shore of Bayou La Loutre to the western shore of
Bayou Yscloskey; thence northward along the western shore of Bayou Yscloskey
and terminating at the point of beginning.

All crab traps remaining in the closed area during the specified period will
be considered abandoned.

In the weeks leading up to the closure periods, LDWF will send notices to
all licensed recreational and commercial crab trap license holders and crab
buyers within these and adjacent parishes.

These proposed trap removal regulations do not provide authorization for
access to private property. Authorization to access private property can
only be provided by individual landowners.

Crab traps may be removed only between one-half hour before sunrise to
one-half hour after sunset. Anyone may remove these abandoned crab traps
from within the closed area. Abandoned traps must be brought to LDWF
designated disposal sites and may not be taken from the closed area.

Since its establishment in 1968, Louisiana Sea Grant has worked to promote
stewardship of the state's coastal resources through a combination of
research, education and outreach programs critical to the cultural, economic
and environmental health of Louisiana's coastal zone. Louisiana Sea Grant,
based at Louisiana State University, is part of the National Sea Grant
Program, a network of 30 programs in each of the U.S. coastal and Great
Lakes states and Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and
protecting Louisiana's abundant natural resources. For more information,
visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb,
or follow on Twitter @LDWF.

Written comments may be submitted to Martin Bourgeois, Marine Fisheries
Biologist, Marine Fisheries Section, P.O. Box 189, Bourg, LA 70343, prior to
November 1, 2013.



Read more: Tangilena.com - State plans 2013 abandoned crab trap removal in
St Bernard Plaquemines