Marine
Academy
of Technology and Environmental Science
Project Terrapin BRD
Zone
Overview
of BRDs
The use of commercial-style crab pots
is one way to catch blue crabs. Crab pots set in water
bodies sometime capture organisms other than blue crabs.
We call this "bycatch". If pots are tended
to frequently, then bycatch can be released back to
the water with little harm. But if they are not tended
to frequently, bycatch can starve and eventually die.
Sadly, diamondback terrapins sometime enter crab pots
because they find the bait and/or blue crabs a good
food source. When terrapins enter, they have a more
narrow window to be rescued and can easily drown in
commercial-syle crab pots (see below). If the funnels
(openings) of pots are fitted with bycatch reduction
devices (BRDs), then adult female terrapins and some
large males cannot enter the pots (see orange-colored
BRD on pot above).
Current Regulations
The New Jersey Division
of Fish and Wildlife has a regulation that requires
the use of Bycatch Reduction Devices on all commercial-style
crab pots that are set in water bodies with shoreline
to shoreline of 150 feet across or less at mean low
water. Therefore, BRDs are needed on crab pots set in
lagoons, and some creek areas. Please see the BRD regulation
at NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife.
Female diamondback terrapin drowned
in a crab pot without BRDs in Ocean County, NJ
Our
Recommendation
MATES
Project Terrapin is sponsoring an initiative to require
Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs) on all commercial-style
crab pots. We are circulating a letter
of support to require
BRDs on all commercial-syle crab pots based on scientific
studies across the range of terrapins in the United
States. Most studies indicate that there is no difference
in the size and amount of crabs caught in pots with
and without BRDs. Also, the size of BRDs in New Jersey
are 2" x 6" which is larger than those required
in the state of Maryland (2" x 4") and Maryland
has no significant reduction in the size of crabs caught.
Regardless
of the shoreline to shoreline requirements, crab pots
set in waterways greater than 150 feet across can also
be habitat for terrapins. Especially, if the pots are
set close to marsh areas. Also, some pots become separated
from the their floats or mooring and become "ghost
pots" that can be moved by large storms into areas
where they can be accessed by terrapins. With the BRD
installed, there is a lower probability of terrapins
accessing crab pots and drowning.
How
you can help
Through
a generous gift from Exelon (Oyster Creek Generating
Facility), we were able to purchase 3000 BRDs to distribute
(free) to people who need them for their commercial-style
crab pots. Please contact us here at MATES at the email
address below if you are interested in getting a set
of BRDs for your crab pot(s). Also, please get a letter
of support signed or send an e-mail to the
NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife and address
the BRD requirement request to the Bureau of Marine
Fisheries (http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/contactform.htm)
Special Thanks
Thanks to Lacey Marine,
NJ for including the BRD bundles in their crab pot distribution
this past summer.
Partners in Terrapin research
and conservation at Barnegat Bay, New Jersey...
......................
Reference
Materials on Terrapins and BRDs:
The Diamondback Terrapin Working
Group Site (DTWG)
Earthwatch
Diamondback Terrapin Research Expedition at Barnegat
Bay, New Jersey
Back
to MATES Home Page |
