AP - "Ghost" traps, long lost, keep catching lobsters

[pointdiver]

I don't see where this is a problem... lobsters can leave traps at will. They aren't designed to keep them in there, but rather to make it hard for them to leave quickly. I've seen a lot of lobsters in ghost traps too, but I've NEVER seen a dead one in there. Have you?

Neither have I in 30+ dive seasons!

 

[Thalassamania]

I don't see where this is a problem... lobsters can leave traps at will. They aren't designed to keep them in there, but rather to make it hard for them to leave quickly. I've seen a lot of lobsters in ghost traps too, but I've NEVER seen a dead one in there. Have you?

Neither have I in 30+ dive seasons!

Ghost traps continue to fish even without bait for long periods of time. The problem is that lobsters are cannibals ... figure it out for yourself.

When I find ghost traps I try to tie them to the closest trap line (there's often one handy) so that they will be pulled.

 

[MSilvia]

Come to think of it, I haven't but I have seen tons of other critters - Fish, Dogfish (woof!), etc, in the ghost traps.

As jpiolu pointed out, ghost traps provide shelter, and as we all know, fish prefer to hide where there is any sort of structure.

Ghost traps continue to fish even without bait for long periods of time. The problem is that lobsters are cannibals ... figure it out for yourself..

The reason I fail to see a problem is that lobsters can (slowly and deliberately) leave traps at will, even when they're being actively fished. This has been well documented on video by lobster fishery research. Furthermore, I understand that while lobster cannibalization in captivity does occur, the behavior has not been observed in the wild. While it's true that lobsters will eat molted chitin to replenish calcium they need to harden new shells, that isn't the same thing, and shouldn't be misconstrued as a problem.

If you haven't read it, and your scientific persuits aren't lobster specific, you might be interested in Trevor Corson's "The Secret Life of Lobsters". It's a good read, and should help to assuage many of your concerns.

When I find ghost traps I try to tie them to the closest trap line (there's often one handy) so that they will be pulled.

You do know that meddling with other peoples traps is illegal, and promotes the notion that divers screw with traps, right?

 

[Thalassamania]

I've gotten to know lots of the lobstermen in the areas where I dive (I always offer to recover their lost traps for them for free) and they appreciate the extra traps and never turn me in for "screwing" with their traps. It makes for a win/win situation. And I appreciate the free bugs that they often give me. I do miss this in Hawaii.

 

[MSilvia]

I've gotten to know lots of the lobstermen in the areas where I dive (I always offer to recover their lost traps for them for free) and they appreciate the extra traps and never turn me in for "screwing" with their traps.

With permission, it may be a different story. I am friendly with a lot of lobstermen in my area too, and I don't so much as touch lobster gear without being asked to by the owner. I certainly don't advocate tying anything off to active gear lines without permission.

Regardless of the legal and PR implications though, I doubt whether ghost trap removal is of much value to lobsters, especially if "removal" means returning the trap to active use.

 

[Thalassamania]

I'm twenty years out of date on fish trap stuff, it was thought (back n the day) that ghost traps were a significant problem. Can you point me to some recent publications that are more up-to-date?

 

[mathauck0814]

Off the coast of Maine you're likely to get shot for "recovering" a trap, a lot of friends won't dive around marked and active traps to avoid the hassle.

We found a sea raven in an abandoned one near Nubble over the summer, not dead, just sort of hanging out. It was pretty well busted open so I assume that fish come and go as they please and that it provides some shelter for them.

 

[CheddarChick]

I've gotten to know lots of the lobstermen in the areas where I dive (I always offer to recover their lost traps for them for free) and they appreciate the extra traps and never turn me in for "screwing" with their traps. It makes for a win/win situation. And I appreciate the free bugs that they often give me. I do miss this in Hawaii.

Sweet......

 

[pdive]

Trevor Corson's "The Secret Life of Lobsters".

Thanks for reminding me of the book. I read it every summer and just realized I didn't read it this year. I'll have to dig it out.

I 2nd that recommendation

 

[MSilvia]

I'm twenty years out of date on fish trap stuff, it was thought (back n the day) that ghost traps were a significant problem. Can you point me to some recent publications that are more up-to-date?

I don't have any good research references handy, but I'll refer you to this post:

My ex-wife did her PhD at UNH. One of the projects in their lab was to video lobsters interaction in traps. I spent hours watching video of lobsters entering, eating, and exiting traps. Traps don't trap lobsters, it provides a shelter with food, and it's a matter of finding lobsters in the shelter, not lobsters trapped in a trap. Feel free to watch the video. UNH: Lobster Research