The Nationwide Fishing Trap Removal, Assessment, and Prevention Program (TRAP) focuses on derelict trap removal in four areas: 1) standardization of data collection and monitoring, 2) reduction of economic and ecological impacts, 3) prevention and mitigation of harmful effects, and 4) comprehensive data sharing and analysis. The TRAP Program provides an opportunity to protect marine ecosystems, preserve local economies, and make a lasting impact on the health of waterways. The program will coordinate the removal of derelict fishing traps (blue crab, American lobster, spiny lobster, Dungeness crab, stone crab, and potentially other types of traps) nationwide. This grant will benefit coastal and estuarine natural resources by reducing target species and bycatch mortality of living marine resources and by the removal of abandoned and derelict traps from sensitive habitats, as well as providing economic benefits such as increased harvests. Projects should also foster awareness of the effects of derelict fishing traps to further the conservation of living marine resources and their habitats and contribute to the understanding of nationwide derelict fishing trap distribution and impacts.
Projects may range from $50,000 to $200,000. The competition is supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Debris Program (NOAA).
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