Thursday, November 1st 2018

In a phenomenon referred to as “ghost fishing" derelict crab pots are lost from storms or cut lines and can have devastating impacts on the ecosystem and local economy. These derelict crab pots continue to catch and kill marine life when lost, like the Northern diamondback terrapin and otherwise harvestable crabs. These lost harvests translate to economic losses for fishermen and the local community. In addition, the pots disrupt navigation and damage sensitive ecosystems. The combined consequences of these abandoned pots reduce the integrity of the Barnegat Bay ecosystem and diminish its functionality for the community.