Out of sight but not out of mind: harmful effects of derelict traps in selected U.S. coastal waters

Courtney Arthur; Ariana E Sutton-Grier; Peter Murphy; Holly Bamford

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.06.050

Out of sight but not out of mind: harmful effects of derelict traps in selected U.S. coastal waters

Mar Pollut Bull. 2014 Sep 15;86(1-2):19-28. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.06.050. Epub 2014 Jul 17.

Authors

Courtney Arthur¹, Ariana E Sutton-Grier², Peter Murphy³, Holly Bamford⁴

Affiliations

¹ Marine Debris Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1305 East-West Highway, N/ORR Room 10240, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; I.M. Systems Group, 6223 Executive Blvd, Rockville, MD 20852, USA. Electronic address: courtney.arthur@noaa.gov.
² Office of the Assistant Administrator, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; University of Maryland, Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA. Electronic address: Ariana.Sutton-Grier@noaa.gov.
³ Marine Debris Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 7600 Sand Point Way, Seattle, WA 98115, USA; Genwest Systems, Inc., 170 W. Dayton St. Suite 106A Edmonds, WA 98020, USA. Electronic address: Peter.Murphy@noaa.gov.
⁴ Office of the Assistant Administrator, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA. Electronic address: Holly.Bamford@noaa.gov.

PMID: 25044039
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.06.050

Abstract

There is a paucity of data in the published literature on the ecological and economic impacts of derelict fishing traps (DFTs) in coastal ecosystems. We synthesized results from seven NOAA-funded trap fisheries studies around the United States and determined that DFT-caused losses to habitat and harvestable annual catch are pervasive, persistent, and largely preventable. Based on this synthesis, we identified key gaps to fill in order to better manage and prevent DFTs. We conclude with suggestions for developing a U.S. DFT management strategy including: (1) targeting studies to estimate mortality of fishery stocks, (2) assessing the economic impacts of DFTs on fisheries, (3) collaborating with the fishing industry to develop solutions to ghost fishing, and (4) examining the regional context and challenges resulting in DFTs to find effective policy solutions to manage, reduce, and prevent gear loss.

Keywords: Derelict fishing gear; Fishery management; Marine debris; Marine pollution.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Animals
Conservation of Natural Resources / trends*
Ecology*
Environmental Monitoring / methods*
Fisheries / instrumentation*
Fisheries / methods
Fishes / physiology*
Mortality / trends*
United States