The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) announced on Sept. 21 that it’s awarding $1.2 million to 11 projects along the East and West coasts to clean up derelict fishing traps. About $225,000 will go to two projects in the Chesapeake Bay region.
Abandoned fishing gear, including crab traps, can damage habitat, create navigational hazards and catch marine life that won’t be harvested.
That’s what the nationwide Fishing, Trap, Removal Assessment and Prevention (TRAP) program tries to fix. TRAP not only removes the gear but also collects data and supports coastal economies to create long-term prevention efforts…