The San Antonio Bay Partnership, in partnership with Dockside Bait in Seadrift is helping coastal communities responsibly retire and recycle old crab traps before they become marine debris. Old, damaged, or abandoned crab traps can continue to harm the bay long after they are no longer in use. Through the Retired Crab Trap Program, commercial and recreational crabbers have a free and easy way to dispose of retired traps properly. helping protect wildlife, reduce litter, and improve the health of our estuaries.
Why It Matters
Derelict crab traps reduce the productivity of our bays and create long-term problems for wildlife, habitat, and navigation. When traps are abandoned or improperly discarded, they can continue to catch crabs, fish, and other animals in a process known as ghost fishing.
By encouraging crabbers to retire old gear responsibly, this program helps:
- Reduce marine debris in local waters
- Prevent ghost fishing and unnecessary wildlife mortality
- Support cleaner shorelines and healthier estuaries
- Promote responsible stewardship within the crabbing community
This work is especially important in a bay system already considered vulnerable and facing increasing environmental pressures.
What We’re Doing
SABP and Dockside Bait provide opportunities for crabbers to drop off retired traps for free disposal and recycling.
As part of the program:
- Crabbers are invited to bring old traps to the Dockside Bait lot
- Volunteers remove non-recyclable debris and materials
- Traps are dismantled, prepared, and crushed for proper recycling
- Additional opportunities for trap disposal are offered throughout the year
This program not only keeps retired gear out of the bay, but also builds partnerships with the people who know these waters best.
Community in Action
The Retired Crab Trap Program is powered by local volunteers and community support.
At our 2025 crab trap crushing event:
- 13 volunteers
- 2 hours of work
- 260 retired crab traps prepared for crushing
The traps were bulky, stacked, and difficult to manage, but volunteers stepped up and quite literally moved mountains of gear to get the job done. SABP has also responded to reports of traps in local waters, including trap accumulations exposed during low tide events. SABP responded by contacting local crabbers accordingly. These efforts highlight the importance of having practical, year-round solutions for retired gear disposal before it becomes a larger environmental problem.
How to Participate
Retiring your old crab traps is simple:
- Drop retired traps off at the Dockside Bait lot before scheduled crushing events
- Contact SABP throughout the year to arrange proper disposal of retired traps
- Encourage others in the crabbing community to participate
This is a free opportunity for private and commercial crab fishers to dispose of old traps responsibly and help protect the future of San Antonio Bay.
Looking Ahead
The Retired Crab Trap Program is about more than disposal; it is about prevention, stewardship, and working together for a healthier bay. By supporting responsible trap retirement and recycling, SABP is helping reduce future derelict gear, improve habitat conditions, and strengthen collaboration with the coastal communities that depend on these waters. Protecting the bay starts with small actions that make a big difference.