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The North Carolina Coastal Federation is set to begin its 11th year of the Lost Fishing Gear Recovery Project in January 2025. But before the effort can get underway, the federation is seeking the assistance of commercial watermen and women along the northern and central coast to sign up to help find and collect lost crab pots.

“Every year, crab pots and other fishing gear are lost in our sounds in a variety of ways,” noted a news release from NCCF. “Lost gear can get hung up or drift into channels, creating serious hazards for boaters, wildlife, and fishermen. Since 2014, the Federation has led the Lost Fishing Gear Recovery Project to remove lost crab pots from North Carolina sounds and waterways.”

With the help of various partners, commercial fishermen and women are hired to collect the pots during the annual closure of internal coastal waters to all crab, eel, fish and shrimp pots from January 1 to 31 north and east of the Highway 58 bridge over Bogue Sound to Emerald Isle.

Those interested in taking part in helping to remove the lost fishing gear – mainly crab pots – can apply at bit.ly/4i2vH8g. Applications are being accepted through December 15, 2024. Captains must have a valid North Carolina standard commercial fishing license.

In 2024, commercial watermen and women, in partnership with N.C. Marine Patrol, removed 2,463 pots from select areas within three Marine Patrol districts. The 2025 project will take place in select areas within Marine Patrol District 1, which covers the northeast region of the coast, and District 2, which covers the central region of the coast, during the January closure. The project will also take place in Marine Patrol District 3, which covers the southeast region of the coast, during the closure from March 1-15. Recruitment for applications for District 3 will take place early in 2025.

Once the pots are collected, they are recycled to the best extent possible, noted the release. Crab pots that are recovered from the Albemarle and Pamlico Sound region during the project will be available for the rightful property owners to reclaim in early February 2025, after the cleanup in the waterways is complete.

This project is funded by the N.C. Commercial Fishing Resource Fund Grant Program. It is intended to improve habitat and water quality and support coastal economies.

“I look forward to participating in this project every year. This work is very important for removing lost gear and debris, which benefits the people and fisheries depending on our local waterways being clean and safe. We’re able to locate gear that has been lost in storms and work to get it returned to the owners, which is yet another benefit of the project,” shared Travis Whitener, a project participant whose homeport is in Kill Devil Hills.

Sara Hallas Hemilright, NCCF education and outreach director and project leader, said she is most grateful for the community partnerships that enable this program to continue to clean up the waterways and create opportunities for work during the winter.

“I’m appreciative of the strong partnerships we’ve formed with commercial fishers over the years. Their expertise in our local waterways is what continues to make this project successful. Their strong work ethic is essential to endure long, cold days working on the water in January. I’m proud to be involved in this project and see so many positive impacts as a result,” said Hemilright.

“This project is part of the Federation’s overall effort to ensure the North Carolina coast is free of marine debris. Establishing an annual paid program for marine debris removal – including crab pots – is a key objective of the N.C. Marine Debris Strategic Plan,” stated the release. “Through field surveys, marine debris cleanup crews reported over 85% of the debris removed from North Carolina’s estuaries in recent years is the result of damaged and/or lost docks, piers, boat houses, and similar structures.

“The Federation will be working on preventative strategies in the coming year as part of a major goal to create a coastal environment free of marine debris.”

For more information on the progress of the Lost Fishing Gear Recovery Project over the past years, go to nccoast.org/marine-debris/crabpotproject.

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