In 2017 San Antonio Bay Partnership (SABP) began participating Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program to help clean the bays of abandoned crab traps. Now, each February during the crabbing closure period, SABP organizes the volunteer efforts in and around Espiritu Santo and San Antonio Bays. We also work with partnering organizations to clean up surrounding bay systems including:

• Lavaca Bay Foundation
• Matagorda Bay Foundation
• Mission Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve

With the help of donating organizations and grants, SABP provides supplies, training and an after party. On the first Friday of the closure period, weather permitting, a reconnaissance plane flies the bays a volunteer over the bays who marks the location of abandoned crab traps in a phone app. Our boat volunteers are assigned to cover specific areas and use the phone app to see the location of traps marked by aerial recon and to document all traps they remove. Trap owner information and entrapped critters are recorded. Analysis of this data has helped to inform us about the reasons for trap dereliction and potential solutions.

2025 Abandoned Crab Trap Removal EVENT SUMMARY

 

SABP Crab Trap Plan & Procedures

Crab Trap Removal How To’s & Training

• • Field Maps app – Written Instructions
  • Field Maps app  – Instructional Video (8mins)
  • Why Collect Data Video (13 mins)
  • Tips & Tricks of Abandoned Crab Trap Removal

Other Links of Interest

Past Years

NOAA Marine Debris Program, Project 2118