Texas Parks and Wildlife Recover Nearly 1,000 Derelict Crab Traps

Cleanup effort also rescued over 500 crabs and other marine life

Mar. 16, 2026 at 7:54pm

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The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recently coordinated an annual crab trap cleanup event, recovering 973 abandoned traps from the state's coastal areas and waterways. The cleanup, which took place from February 20 to March 1, also resulted in the rescue of over 500 crabs, as well as various other marine species like sheepshead, catfish, and flounder that had become trapped.

Why it matters

Derelict crab traps can cause significant harm to coastal ecosystems through 'ghost fishing', where trapped animals die and continue to attract more wildlife, creating a vicious cycle. The traps can also entangle shrimping nets, damage boat propellers, and pose a threat to birds and other animals. This annual cleanup effort helps mitigate these environmental impacts.

The details

During the two-week crab trap recovery period, Texas Parks and Wildlife officers and volunteers removed 973 abandoned traps from the state's docks and bays. They also rescued 320 blue crabs, 201 stone crabs, 21 sheepshead, 13 catfish, 3 flounder, and 2 diamondback terrapins that had become trapped in the derelict gear.

  • The crab trap cleanup took place from February 20 to March 1, 2026.
  • The annual crab trap removal program in Texas has been running since 2002.

The players

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

The state agency that coordinates the annual crab trap cleanup effort and recovery program.

Galveston Bay Foundation

A non-profit organization that partners with Texas Parks and Wildlife on the crab trap cleanup and hosts its own cleanup event as part of the program.

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What they’re saying

“Then they can die, and then they're essentially self-feeding the system, so it can keep attracting wildlife in there and then killing it, essentially.”

— Natasha Zarnstorff, Water protection manager, Galveston Bay Foundation

What’s next

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will continue to coordinate the annual crab trap cleanup program, working with partner organizations to remove abandoned traps and rescue trapped marine life.

The takeaway

This cleanup effort highlights the importance of responsible crab fishing practices and the ongoing efforts to protect Texas' coastal ecosystems from the damaging effects of derelict fishing gear. The recovery of hundreds of traps and thousands of animals demonstrates the significant impact these programs can have in mitigating environmental harm.