Transcript Slide 1
The Need For BRDs
(Bycatch Reduction Devices)
Project Terrapin
Marine Academy of Technology and
Environmental Science (MATES)
195 Cedar Bridge Road, Manahawkin New Jersey
08050
Social Problem
Species dying worldwide from
human industrialization
Many varieties of human
destruction
Bycatch
Crab Pot Design and Issue
Bendable
openings
Species cannot
escape
Drowning
Law: 72 hours
Diagram of a basic crab pot
Derelict “Ghost” Crab Pots
Abandoned “Ghost Pots” that could
contain drowned terrapins and other
non-targeted species.
“Ghost Crab Pot” found with 94 dead
terrapins in Georgia
BRD Team “Ghost Pot” Searches
Why New Jersey
Densest populated state
Commercial & recreational crabbing
◦ Barnegat Bay Estuary
◦ Delaware Bay Estuary
◦ New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary
Billion dollars
◦ Tourism
◦ Fishing
◦ Crabbing
Why This Species?
Diamondback Terrapin
(Malaclemys terrapin )
Bio-indicators
Proliferation of species
Species of concern
Late maturity
Other Bycatch
Spider crabs
Summer and winter flounder
Conches
Pufferfish
“...approximately 250,000
derelict “ghost” traps are
added to the Gulf of Mexico
each year”
("National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration")
BRD: Bycatch Reduction Device
Prevent larger
species from
entering crab pots
Easy to install
Cost-effective
Can be made to fit
any size
A BRD attached to a
commercial-style crab pot
Impact of BRDs
Lower bycatch mortality
Mandatory in Maryland on all crab pots
Scientifically proven to not decrease crab
capture rates
How to Use a BRD
1.
Put the BRD over the opening of the
crab pot
2.
Fasten with wire ties
3.
Ready to use!
Goal
Reduce the number of species killed from
human development
Female diamondback terrapin drowned
in a crab pot without BRDs in Ocean County, NJ
BRD Initiative & Local Support
Founded: November 2009
Newspaper articles: The Sandpaper,
Asbury Park Press
Signatures: 5,000+
Facebook Cause “Saving the
Diamondback Terrapin” members: 500+
Public Opinion
Letters of support
From local communities
Local Stores
L & H Woods and Water
Lacey Marine
Local schools
Project Terrapin Calendar Contest
Brought awareness of the use of BRDs to children and adults
Afterschool Outreach
Local Presentations
LBI Foundation of the Arts and Sciences, LBI Rotary,
Tuckerton Seaport, NJ Endangered & Non-game
Species Council, Boy Scout Troops, Fish Hawks
Statistics on Crab Catch
“Contrary to the substantial effect on terrapins,
BRDs had little to no effect on crab catch” (Rook et al.
2010)
Statistics on Terrapins Presence
(Rook et al. 2010)
Synopsis
Animals are drowning
BRDs can save lives
Maryland has already passed a law
Cost-effective
Links
Bycatch Reduction Device Team Website:
http://team-brd.webs.com/
Saving the Diamondback Terrapin Cause:
http://www.causes.com/causes/547468
Project Terrapin Website:
http://www.ocvts.org/htm/mates/matesbulletinboard.html
Contact
Dr. John Wnek
◦ E-mail: [email protected]
Anthony Bucci III
◦ E-mail: [email protected]
Acknowledgements
How to Help
1. Promote the use of BRDs!
◦ The more everyone knows, the more you can help.
2. Use a BRD!
◦ If you have a crab pot…use a BRD!
3. Let’s not repeat the same mistake that others
have. Take a stand to protect our local species
and preserve our ecosystems!
Sources
(2005). The Barnegat Bay Beat, 4(2), Retrieved from http://www.bbep.org/dwnloads/spr05.pdf
Blanvillain, G, Schwenter, J, Day, R, Christopher, S, Roumillat, W, & Owens, D. (2005). Using diamondback terrapins,
malaclemys terrapin, as sentinel species for monitoring mercury pollution in estuarine systems. Allen Press, Retrieved from
http://abstracts.co.allenpress.com/pweb/setac2005/document/55518
Butler, J, & Heinrich, G. (2005). Noaa project final report. Retrieved from
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/mb/financial_services/skpdfs/Attachment5.pdf
Diamondback Terrapin Working Group. (2004). Retrieved from http://dtwg.org/
Chesapeake bay glossary. (2009, February 17). Retrieved from http://www.mariner.org/chesapeakebay/waterman/vocab.html
Fisheries technical report. (2009, December 09).
Alaska Sea Grant. (2009, February February). Ghost pots: arctic science journeys radio. Retrieved from
http://seagrant.uaf.edu/news/02ASJ/01.11.02gho stpots.html
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.). Gulf of mexico derelict crab trap problem. Retrieved from
http://www.gsmfc.org/derelicttraps.htm
Hart, M, Kristen, C, McIvor, Carole, King, Tim, & Crowder, Larry. Integrating ecology and genetics to define population
extent for a continuously-distributed species, diamondback terrapins (malaclemys terrapin). (2007). Retrieved from
http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/posters/terrapin_pop/
Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Keep Terrapins and other air-breathing animals out of your crab pots. Retrieved
from http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/recreational/terpart899.htm
NOAA. (2009, February 17). Marine debris program - projects. Retrieved from
http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/projects/ncterrapin .html
McFaden, F. (2008, May 8). New recreational crab pot requirements. Retrieved from
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/regulations/crabpot-trd/crabpottrd.html
More Crab pots for bay ok'd, but agency closing loopholes. (n.d.). The Virginian Pilot, Retrieved from
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1- 68469554.html
Sources
Ccrbot. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www4.ncsu.edu/~dbeggles/education/syne rgy/graphics/Bimages/ccrbpot.jpg
Kaprolis, K. (n.d.). Lost crab pots still catching crabs. Retrieved from
http://indiancountrynews.net/index2.php?option%20%20=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=3753
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved from
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/about.htm
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Noaa news online (story 2693). Retrieved from
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2006/s26 93.htm
Terrapin Conservation at the Wetlands Institute. Retrieved from http://www.terrapinconservation.org/
Roosenburg, W, & Green, J. Impact of bycatch reduction devices on diamondback terrapins and blue crab capture
in crab pots. (2000). Ecological Applications, 10(3), 882-89.
Roosenburg, W , Cresko, W, Modesitte, M, & Robbins, M. Diamondback terrapin (malaclemys terrapin) mortality
in crab pots. (1997). Conservation Biology, 11(5), 1166-72.
Salty Dog Tackle. (2006, June 03). Salty dog tackle-saltwater fishing tackle forum. Retrieved from
http://saltydogtackle.blogspot.com/
U.S. Fish and Wildlife. State-wide crab trap removal program. Retrieved from
http://www.fws.gov/texascoastalprogram/State% 20Crab%20Trap%20Removal%20Program.htm
Roosenburg, W. The Impact of crab pot fisheries on terrapin (malaclemys terrapin) populations: where are we
and where do we need to go?. Conservation and Ecology of Turtles of the Mid-Atlantic Region, 23-30.
Thank you for your time and we
hope that you can help us change
the world one terrapin at a time