+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | TPWD News Release 20090212a | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | This page contains only plain text, no HTML formatting codes. | | It is not designed for display in a browser but for copying | | and editing in whatever software you use to lay out pages. | | To copy the text into an editing program: | | --Display this page in your browser. | | --Select all. | | --Copy. | | --Paste in a document in your editing program. | | If you have any suggestions for improving these pages, send | | an e-mail to webtech@tpwd.state.tx.us and mention Plain Text Pages. | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ [ Note: This item is more than seven months old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references. ] [ General Media Contact: Business Hours, 512-389-4406 ] [ Additional Contacts: Art Morris, 361-825-3356, art.morris@tpwd.state.tx.us; or Tonya Wiley, 281-534-0131, tonya.wiley@tpwd.state.tx.us ] Feb. 12, 2009 Abandoned Crab Trap Drop-off Sites Announced CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas--Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials today announced drop-off sites for the 8th Texas Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program, scheduled this year from Feb. 20 to March 1. During this 10-day period, all Texas bays will be closed to crabbing with crab traps, and any traps left in the bay will be presumed to be abandoned and considered litter under state law, thus allowing volunteers to legally remove any crab traps they find. Volunteers are needed to assist in the coast-wide effort to remove the numerous wire mesh traps that have been lost or abandoned since last year's cleanup. To facilitate volunteer trap removal efforts this year, TPWD will provide facilitated trap drop-off sites at several locations along the coast Saturday, Feb. 21, from 8 a.m. to noon, weather permitting. Additionally, at all sites, dumpsters marked with banners will be available to receive traps for the duration of the closure. Volunteers can work at their own pace during the closure as time and weather permit, but traps cannot be removed prior to Feb. 20 or after March 1. Last year, volunteers, with the aid of numerous sponsors, removed more than 2,800 traps. To participate, volunteers can arrange to pick-up free tarps, gloves, trap hooks and additional information at their local TPWD Coastal Fisheries Field Stations. TPWD requests that volunteers record and submit information about the number of traps that they collect as well as any sightings of diamondback terrapins. For more information about the Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program and how you can volunteer, please contact your local TPWD Coastal Fisheries Office or Art Morris at the Corpus Christi Field Station: (361) 825-3356, art.morris@tpwd.state.tx.us; or Tonya Wiley at the Dickinson Marine Lab: (281) 534-0131, tonya.wiley@tpwd.state.tx.us. Sabine Lake Local TPWD coordinator Jerry Mambretti, (409) 736-9035 Texas/Louisiana Causeway Boat Ramp -- Trap drop-off site Feb. 20-March 1 Galveston Bay Local TPWD coordinator Bill Balboa, (281) 534-0110 Jones Lake State Ramp (Fat Boys) -- Facilitated Feb. 21, 8 a.m.-12 noon -- Trap drop-off site Feb. 20-March 1 TPWD Dickinson Marine Lab-1502 FM 517 E, Dickinson -- Trap drop-off site Feb. 20 -- March 1 Seabrook SH 146 Bridge Public Boat Ramp -- Trap drop-off site Feb. 20-March 1 Fort Anahuac County Park Boat Ramp -- Facilitated Feb. 21 8 a.m.- 12 noon -- Trap drop-off site Feb. 20-March 1 Chocolate Bayou State Boat Ramp -- FM 2004 -- Facilitated Feb. 21 8 a.m.-12 noon -- Trap drop-off site Feb. 20-March 1 Pier 30 Bait and Tackle-1617 E. Hwy 332, Freeport -- Trap drop-off site Feb. 20-March 1 Matagorda Bay Local TPWD coordinator Leslie Hartman, (361) 972-6253 Mitchell Cut Boat (ICWW) Ramp @ Sargent -- Trap drop-off site Feb. 20-March 1 Matagorda Harbor @ Matagorda -- Trap drop-off site Feb. 20-March 1 San Antonio Bay Local TPWD coordinator Norman Boyd, (361) 983-4425 Charlie's Bait Stand -- Facilitated Feb. 21, 8 a.m.-12 noon -- Trap drop-off site Feb. 20-March 1 Port O'Connor TPWD Docks -- Facilitated Feb. 21, 8 a.m.-12 noon -- Trap drop-off site Feb. 20-March 1 Aransas Bay Local TPWD coordinator Karen Meador, (361) 729-2328 Goose Island State Park Boat Ramp -- Trap drop-off site Feb. 20-March 1 North Cove Harbor Boat Ramp -- Trap drop-off site Feb. 20-March 1 Corpus Christi Bay Local TPWD coordinator Tom Wagner, (361) 729-2328 South Conn Brown Harbor Boat Ramp -- Facilitated Feb. 21, 8 a.m.-12 noon -- Trap drop-off site Feb. 20-March 1 Upper Laguna Madre Local TPWD coordinator Todd Neahr, (361) 825-3353 Bluff Landing Marina -- Trap drop-off site Feb. 20-March 1 Kaufer Park Boat Ramp -- Trap drop-off site Feb. 20-March 1 Lower Laguna Madre Local TPWD coordinator Mark Lingo, (956) 350-4490 Adolfe Thomae County Park @ Arroyo City -- Trap drop-off site Feb. 20-March 1 Port Mansfield Navigation District Ramp @ Port Mansfield -- Trap drop-off site Feb. 20-March 1 --- On the Net: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/index.phtml?req=20090114b http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/water/habitats/bays/beachaccess.phtml -30-