Texas Volunteers Rescue 560 Animals From 973 Ghost Traps

When volunteers pulled 973 abandoned crab traps from Texas bays this February, they found living creatures still fighting to survive inside.

The annual cleanup led by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department freed 560 marine animals from certain death. Blue crabs made up most of the rescues at 320, followed by 201 stone crabs, dozens of fish, and even two rare diamondback terrapins.

These forgotten traps don't just sit harmlessly on the ocean floor. They become "ghost traps" that keep catching and killing marine life for years after being lost or abandoned. They tangle shrimp nets, snag fishing lines, and turn into underwater death chambers for curious creatures.

Texas schedules its cleanup during a 10-day February crabbing closure when crews can legally remove any trap they find. Game wardens, coastal fisheries staff, and volunteers fanned out across Texas bays with boats and determination. Even traps tied to docks weren't safe from removal.

"The support of our volunteers, partners, and staff is crucial for the success of this program," said Holly Grand, TPWD's coastal outreach coordinator. The effort brought together groups like Coastal Conservation Association Texas, Galveston Bay Foundation, and San Antonio Bay Partnership.

The Ripple Effect

The numbers tell a stunning story of persistence paying off. Since the program launched 24 years ago, crews have removed more than 46,000 derelict traps from Texas waters. That cleanup has spared an estimated 756,461 blue crabs from dying in ghost traps.

Each trap removed means fewer entangled nets for shrimpers, clearer waters for recreational fishing, and safer habitats for protected species like terrapins. Commercial fishers get their equipment back intact, while marine populations get a fighting chance to recover.

The Gulf of America Alliance provides funding and helps develop innovative methods to find abandoned traps. Technology keeps improving, making each year's cleanup more efficient than the last.

This February's haul of 973 traps means 973 fewer hazards lurking in Texas bays, and Grand's team is already looking forward to removing even more next year.