JANUARY 22, 2016--As part of a two-year marine debris removal project funded through the program's Community-based Marine Debris Removal Grant, the North Carolina Coastal Federation, a group working with local fishermen and North Carolina Marine Patrol removed hundreds of derelict crab pots from Pamlico, Albemarle, Currituck, and Roanoke Sounds during the no-potting period (roughly two weeks long starting Jan 15).

Southeast Marine Debris Regional Coordinator, Sarah Latshaw visited the partners to check-in on the progress of the project.

Fishermen were trained on how to use side scan sonar to detect derelict crab pots, as well as how to enter data on the location of the pot as well as any bycatch found inside of them. Once the pots were removed, they were either crushed by North Carolina Marine Patrol and disposed of, or reclaimed by the fishermen who lost them. Due to freezing temperatures, high winds, and rain this week, fishermen had difficulties retrieving pots, but some persisted and returned with a bounty of pots. If weather conditions improve, they will attempt removal efforts for two more days next week before the no-potting season ends and the waters are reopened for another year.

To find out more about this or other removal projects happening in the Southeast, contact Sarah Latshaw at sarah.latshaw@noaa.gov.

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