Over 1,000 abandoned lobster traps removed from Long Island Sound: ‘Restoring the ecosystem’

https://www.theridgefieldpress.com/news/article/norwalk-lobster-traps-removed-long-island-sound-18539349.php

Dec. 11, 2023

1of6A total of 60 traps sit aboard the Golfino after they were uncovered from an area near Penfield Reed in Long Island Sound in December 2022. All of the traps were laid by one fisherman more than a decade ago. John Moritz/ Hearst Connecticut Media Group

The captain of the Golfino, Brian Matias, inspects a band indicating information about an abandoned lobster trap, including its owner and when it was last set as he removed traps from Long Island Sound in December 2022. Experts estimate that roughly 1 million traps lay abandoned at the bottom of the Sound.

NORWALK — More than 1,000 abandoned lobster traps have been removed from Long Island Sound in the past year, thanks to the efforts of the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, Save the Sound and other local organizations.

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“We are delighted to be working alongside current and former members of the lobster fishery to accomplish this important work,” said Sarah Crosby, director of conservation and policy at the aquarium. “We have found over 10,000 animals inside of these traps so far, both alive and dead, including fish, crabs and even a few lobsters.

“We are learning so much about the Sound through this work, but also restoring the ecosystem in a really tangible way,” Crosby said.

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The Lobster Trap Recovery and Assessment Partnership, known as L-TRAP, is a conservation project involving the Maritime Aquarium, Save the Sound, Project Oceanology, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, Remote Ecologist and local fishers.

“We began this initiative for Connecticut in 2019, and it is great to see the program completing its first year,” said Bill Lucey, Save the Sound’s Long Island Soundkeeper. “Working with the Connecticut fishing industry captains and crew members has been an invaluable learning experience.”

L-TRAP’s mission is to recover abandon traps left at the bottom of the Sound that still catch lobsters, crabs and fish, which die in the abandoned traps. It’s estimated that 800,000 to 1.2 million abandon traps have been left on the bottom of the Sound over the decades from the once-thriving lobster industry.

So far, the partners have accomplished 57 of the 95 federally funded recovery trips planned, The Maritime Aquarium reported.

In 2022, L-TRAPs received a $569,000 federal grant to support the trips. The Maritime Aquarium stated their goal is remove 3,000 lobster traps in two years.

“There are lots of traps left to collect, but we have great momentum and amazing partners,” Crosby said. “We are excited to keep going.”

Abandoned traps disrupt the ecosystem and bottom habitats, which have led to declines in lobster, crab and fish populations. During storms, the traps can interfere with the navigation and work of fisheries. Old traps can also leach harmful chemicals into the water as the coating wears off and gears break down.

“The array of ecological and financial benefits is truly significant, and CCE Suffolk is immensely proud to be a part of L-TRAP and its valued partnerships,” said Vanessa Lockel, executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County in New York.

This week Connecticut received a $12 million federal grant to fund more conservation projects, including lobster trap removals, along Long Island Sound.

“We are thrilled that the cooperative effort to remove ghost fishing gear from Long Island Sound has achieved this notable milestone,” said Katie Dykes, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. “We appreciate the effort of all the project partners in bringing to fruition the promise of the 2018 Public Act, which created the ability for DEEP to authorize third parties to remove lost fishing gear from the Sound.”

In total, 1,178 lobster traps have been recovered from the Sound.

“The L-TRAP partnership is a great example of how various stakeholders can work with regulators to collaboratively deliver positive outcomes for the Long Island Sound ecosystem,” Dykes added.

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