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This January, the North Carolina Coastal Federation kicked off its 11^th annual Lost Fishing Gear Recovery Project, enlisting the support of 20 dedicated commercial fishermen and women. This initiative aims to locate and remove displaced and potentially dangerous fishing gear along the northern and central coast, noted a news release from NCCF.

“Throughout the month, crews will diligently search designated areas to recover lost crab pots, which pose serious threats to boaters, wildlife, and the fishing community,” stated the release.

“Each year, crab pots and other gear are lost in our coastal waters due to various circumstances, creating hazards that can disrupt both the ecosystem and local fishing industries,” the release continued. “Since its inception in 2014, the Federation has successfully led the charge to clear lost gear from North Carolina’s sounds, finding more than 23,000 lost crab pots.”

This year, commercial fishermen will be active from January 1-31, during the annual closure that prohibits the use of crab, eel, fish and shrimp pots in internal coastal waters, specifically north of the Highway 58 bridge to Emerald Isle. Last year, collaborative efforts between commercial watermen and the N.C. Marine Patrol resulted in the recovery of an impressive 2,463 pots across all three Marine Patrol Districts.

The 2025 project will specifically target select areas within Marine Patrol Districts 1 and 2, covering the northeast and central regions of the coast. After collection, recovered crab pots will be recycled as much as possible, and those retrieved from the Albemarle and Pamlico Sound region will be available for rightful property owners to reclaim post-cleanup.

This project is funded by the N.C. Commercial Fishing Resource Fund Grant Program and aims to enhance marine habitat, improve water quality, and bolster the coastal economy. Chris Lamb, a long-time project participant from Belhaven, shared, “I’m glad to be involved and do my part to keep the sounds clean. It’s important for the blue crab fishery and much more. Without clean waterways, there would be so much at risk.”

Sara Hallas Hemilright, NCCF coastal education coordinator and project leader, emphasized the significance of this collaborative effort: “This project brings together unique partnerships for a common cause of clean waterways. Our commercial fishers are true experts of the local waters, and it’s an honor to work alongside them to ensure the success of this initiative.”

Boat crews are currently conducting crab pot removals from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on favorable weather days for a limited number of days. Each crew will operate between 3-5 days throughout the month, contributing to NCCF’s ongoing mission to rid the N.C. coast 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 Action Plan,” stated the release.

To learn more about the Lost Fishing Gear Recovery Project and its impact over the years, go to nccoast.org/marine-debris/crabpotproject.

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