the need for brds (bycatch reduction devices) project terrapin marine academy of technology and...

The Need For BRDs(Bycatch Reduction

Devices)

Project Terrapin

Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science (MATES)

195 Cedar Bridge Road, Manahawkin New Jersey 08050

Social ProblemSpecies dying worldwide from

human industrialization

Many varieties of humandestruction

Bycatch

Crab Pot Design and IssueBendable

openings

Species cannot escape

Drowning

Law: 72 hoursDiagram of a basic crab pot

Abandoned “Ghost Pots” that could contain drowned

terrapins and other non-targeted species.

“Ghost Crab Pot” found with 94 dead

terrapins in Georgia

Derelict “Ghost” Crab Pots

BRD Team “Ghost Pot” Searches

Why New JerseyDensest populated state

Commercial & recreational crabbing◦Barnegat Bay Estuary◦Delaware Bay Estuary◦New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary

Billion dollars◦Tourism◦Fishing◦Crabbing

Why This Species?

Bio-indicators

Proliferation of species

Species of concern

Late maturityDiamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin )

Other BycatchSpider crabs

Conches

Summer and winter flounder

Pufferfish

“...approximately 250,000 derelict “ghost” traps are added to the Gulf of Mexico each year”("National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration")

BRD: Bycatch Reduction DevicePrevent larger

species fromentering crab pots

Easy to install

Cost-effective

Can be made to fit any size

A BRD attached to acommercial-style crab pot

Impact of BRDsLower bycatch mortality

Mandatory in Maryland on all crab pots

Scientifically proven to not decrease crab capture rates

How to Use a BRD

1. Put the BRD over the opening of the crab pot

2. Fasten with wire ties

3. Ready to use!

GoalReduce the number of species

killed from human development

Female diamondback terrapin drowned in a crab pot without BRDs in Ocean County, NJ

BRD Initiative & Local SupportFounded: November 2009

Newspaper articles: The Sandpaper, Asbury Park Press

Signatures: 5,000+

Facebook Cause “Saving the Diamondback Terrapin” members: 500+

Public OpinionLetters of support

From local communitiesLocal Stores

L & H Woods and WaterLacey Marine

Local schoolsProject Terrapin Calendar Contest

Brought awareness of the use of BRDs to children and adults

Afterschool OutreachLocal Presentations

LBI Foundation of the Arts and Sciences, LBI Rotary, Tuckerton Seaport, NJ Endangered & Non-game Species Council, Boy Scout Troops, Fish Hawks

Statistics on Crab Catch“Contrary to the substantial effect on

terrapins, BRDs had little to no effect on crab catch” (Rook et al. 2010)

Statistics on Terrapins Presence

(Rook et al. 2010)

SynopsisAnimals are drowning

BRDs can save lives

Maryland has already passed a law

Cost-effective

LinksBycatch Reduction Device Team

Website: http://team-brd.webs.com/

Saving the Diamondback Terrapin Cause: http://www.causes.com/causes/547468

Project Terrapin Website: http://www.ocvts.org/htm/mates/mates-bulletinboard.html

ContactDr. John Wnek

◦E-mail: JWnek@mail.ocvts.orgAnthony Bucci III

◦E-mail: abucci.mates@gmail.com

Acknowledgements

How to Help1. Promote the use of BRDs!

◦ The more everyone knows, the more you can help.

2. Use a BRD!◦ If you have a crab pot…use a BRD!

3. Let’s not repeat the same mistake that others have. Take a stand to

protect our local species and preserve our ecosystems!

Sources (2005). The Barnegat Bay Beat, 4(2), Retrieved from http://www.bbep.org/dwnloads/spr05.pdf

Blanvillain, G, Schwenter, J, Day, R, Christopher, S, Roumillat, W, & Owens, D. (2005). Using diamondback terrapins, malaclemys terrapin, as sentinel species for monitoring mercury pollution in estuarine systems. Allen Press, Retrieved from http://abstracts.co.allenpress.com/pweb/setac2005/document/55518

Butler, J, & Heinrich, G. (2005). Noaa project final report. Retrieved from http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/mb/financial_services/skpdfs/Attachment5.pdf

Diamondback Terrapin Working Group. (2004). Retrieved from http://dtwg.org/

Chesapeake bay glossary. (2009, February 17). Retrieved from http://www.mariner.org/chesapeakebay/waterman/vocab.html

Fisheries technical report. (2009, December 09).

Alaska Sea Grant. (2009, February February). Ghost pots: arctic science journeys radio. Retrieved from http://seagrant.uaf.edu/news/02ASJ/01.11.02gho stpots.html

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.). Gulf of mexico derelict crab trap problem. Retrieved from http://www.gsmfc.org/derelicttraps.htm

Hart, M, Kristen, C, McIvor, Carole, King, Tim, & Crowder, Larry. Integrating ecology and genetics to define population extent for a continuously-distributed species, diamondback terrapins (malaclemys terrapin). (2007). Retrieved from http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/posters/terrapin_pop/

Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Keep Terrapins and other air-breathing animals out of your crab pots. Retrieved from http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/recreational/terpart899.htm

NOAA. (2009, February 17). Marine debris program - projects. Retrieved from http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/projects/ncterrapin .html

McFaden, F. (2008, May 8). New recreational crab pot requirements. Retrieved from http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/regulations/crabpot-trd/crabpottrd.html

More Crab pots for bay ok'd, but agency closing loopholes. (n.d.). The Virginian Pilot, Retrieved from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1- 68469554.html

Sources Ccrbot. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www4.ncsu.edu/~dbeggles/education/syne rgy

/graphics/Bimages/ccrbpot.jpg

Kaprolis, K. (n.d.). Lost crab pots still catching crabs. Retrieved from http://indiancountrynews.net/index2.php?option%20%20=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=3753

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved from http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/about.htm

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Roosenburg, W, & Green, J. Impact of bycatch reduction devices on diamondback terrapins and blue crab capture in crab pots. (2000). Ecological Applications, 10(3), 882-89.

Roosenburg, W , Cresko, W, Modesitte, M, & Robbins, M. Diamondback terrapin (malaclemys terrapin) mortality in crab pots. (1997). Conservation Biology, 11(5), 1166-72.

Salty Dog Tackle. (2006, June 03). Salty dog tackle-saltwater fishing tackle forum. Retrieved from http://saltydogtackle.blogspot.com/

U.S. Fish and Wildlife. State-wide crab trap removal program. Retrieved from http://www.fws.gov/texascoastalprogram/State% 20Crab%20Trap%20Removal%20Program.htm

Roosenburg, W. The Impact of crab pot fisheries on terrapin (malaclemys terrapin) populations: where are we and where do we need to go?. Conservation and Ecology of Turtles of the Mid-Atlantic Region, 23-30.

Thank you for your time and we hope that you can help us change the world one

terrapin at a time