Virginia watermen place nearly 350,000 crab pots into the Bay and its tributaries every year. Of those, upwards of 20% will be lost yearly, creating an astonishing debris field that poses a safety, nuisance, and environmental hazard to not only blue crabs but dozens of other creatures as well.


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t was the second crab pot buoy I had found washed up on Haven Beach in less than a month. Somewhere out in the Bay two more crab pots joined the thousands of others sitting on the bottom. Except for the waterman, whose investment in the pots is now likely lost forever, or the scientists who study them, to most of us it is quite frankly out of sight, out of mind. Few realize that though now derelict, these lost or abandoned pots continue functioning, luring crabs and other marine life inside; efficient killers whose catch will never make it to market. The density of derelict or ghost pots varies by region depending on fishing pressure, recreational and commercial boating traffic, exposure to large fetch, and storm impacts. In areas around Tangier Island, the York River, and along the East- ern Shore, there can be a dozen lost pots per acre. Poor choice of buoy materials, worn lines, abandonment, and vandalism also contribute to this growing problem. Virginia watermen place nearly 350,000 crab pots into the Bay and its tributaries every year. Of those, upwards of 20% will be lost yearly, creating an astonishing debris field that poses a safety, nuisance, and environmental hazard to not only blue crabs but dozens of other creatures as well. Dr. Kirk J. Havens, Director, Coastal Watersheds Program at


the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary puts it quite simply. “One crab pot lost at the beginning of the season can capture 50-100 market-sized crabs over the season.” As the marine life trapped inside dies, it serves as bait, enticing others that fall victim to a vicious cycle that does not end until the pot eventually corrodes away. In areas of the Bay with high salinity a derelict pot begins


to break down after a couple of years. In brackish waters, pots, particularly vinyl-coated ones, tend to last several years. The design of the modern crab pot is simple but effective, enticing crabs to enter and preventing their escape.


Trash crab pots destined for the dump. The House & Home Magazine


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