Derelict Lobster Gear Project
Derelict Lobster Gear Assessment, Removal and Prevention
(Funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Federation, Fishing for Energy Fund, 2010)
Abandoned, lost or discarded lobster pots and other marine debris are problems of increasing concern in Long Island Sound (LIS), yet there is currently no capacity in New York State to address mitigation needs. This project completes the first assessment and removal of derelict (untended, lost or abandoned) lobster gear in the Northport/Huntington Complex area within Western Long Island Sound. The Northport/Huntington Complex has been identified as a well delineated area with a historically high density of lobster gear deployment.
The long-term conservation outcomes resulting from the proposed project addressing derelict lobster gear and removal in the Huntington/Northport Complex are as follows:
- Establish a precedent setting partnership to systematically begin to address the LIS derelict lobster gear problem
- Formulate an accurate evaluation of the quantity of derelict lobster gear currently impacting the study site
- Determine the biological impacts of derelict lobster gear on the living resources within the study site
- Complete a controlled and precise removal program with a strict protocol so as to not disrupt ongoing legal harvest and insure that retrieved derelict lobster gear is managed in a manner consistent with NYSDEC regulations
CCE also conducted outreach and educational activities with the commercial lobster industry and local officials in order to promote environmental stewardship and awareness, as well as improve management practices by providing the template for recycling, proper storage and disposal activities for inactive fishing gear.
CCE will achieve all conservation goals by implementing the following assessment, removal and disposal programs:
- Conduct comprehensive survey of lobster industry within the study site and develop a working committee from those individuals in order to identify areas of accumulated derelict lobster gear
- Complete a search and review of existing side-scan sonar databases within the study area and correlate this data with survey findings
- Complete a removal program using experienced commercial lobstermen which will include a catalogue of all derelict lobster gear collected by condition and other factors
- Recycle collected derelict lobster gear through the Fishing for Energy Partnership
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View a video on our pilot project:
