AUSTIN – From Feb. 16- 25, Texas coastal waters will close to crabbing with wire mesh crab traps to facilitate an annual volunteer crab trap cleanup.

Any traps left in bays — including traps tied to docks — will be assumed abandoned and considered litter under state law. This allows volunteers to legally remove any crab traps they find. Each February volunteers spend 10 days on the water along the Texas coastline searching bays for abandoned crab traps left to foul shrimpers’ nets, snag anglers’ lines, “ghost fish,” and create unsightly views.

Over the past 22 years, they’ve hauled off more than 42,500 of these derelict traps, saving an estimated 700,000 blue crabs.

Volunteers are needed to assist in the coast-wide effort.  To facilitate volunteer efforts, select sites – denoted as “facilitated” in the list below – will have volunteer events on Feb. 17.

Registration with partner organizations may be required. Registration links for partner organizations can be found in the list of trap drop-off sites. Additionally, at all sites, dumpsters or collection areas marked with banners will be available to receive traps for the duration of the closure.  Volunteers may focus their efforts on Feb. 17 or work at their own pace anytime during the closure, but traps cannot be removed prior to Feb. 16 or after Feb. 25. Opportunities for land-based volunteers are limited.

The Coastal Conservation Association of Texas, Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program, Galveston Bay Foundation, San Antonio Bay Partnership, Christmas Bay Foundation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is providing continued support to the crab trap removal program. Numerous other organizations and companies also volunteer their services.

To participate, volunteers may pick up free tarps, gloves and additional information at their local TPWD Coastal Fisheries field stations. TPWD requests that volunteers who remove traps record and submit information about the number of traps they collect as well as documenting any sightings of diamondback terrapins.

The closure will not affect any other legal means of crabbing. For more information, contact your local TPWD Coastal Fisheries office or Holly Grand at (361) 431-6003 x822 or crabtrap@tpwd.texas.gov.

Learn more about the Texas Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program’s history .

Find images of previous abandoned crab trap clean ups on the TPWD news images page. TPWD also produces YouTube videos.

2024 Crab Trap Drop-Off Sites

SABINE LAKE – Local TPWD coordinator Carey Gelpi (409) 983-1104 (ext. 222)

Pleasure Island Marina Boat Ramp – Facilitated trap drop-off site.

GALVESTON BAY – Local TPWD coordinator Christine Jensen (281) 534-0100

Jones Lake State Ramp (Fat Boys) — Non-facilitated trap drop-off site

Dickinson Bayou SH 146 Bridge Public Boat Ramp — Non-facilitated trap drop-off site

Fort Anahuac County Park Boat Ramp — Facilitated trap drop-off site. Register to volunteer at this site with the Galveston Bay Foundation.

Chocolate Bayou State Boat Ramp FM 2004 — Non-facilitated trap drop-off site

TPWD Dickinson Marine Lab — Non-facilitated trap drop-off site during business hours (M-F, 8am-5pm)

Christmas Bay boat ramp (at the end of Amigo Lane) – Facilitated by the Christmas Bay Foundation. Visit Christmas Bay Foundation’s site for more information about volunteering at this location.

MATAGORDA BAY– Local TPWD coordinator Leslie Hartman (361) 972-6253

Please visit San Antonio Bay Partnership’s site for more information about volunteering throughout the mid-coast.

Matagorda Harbor (Matagorda) – Non-facilitated trap drop-off site

Railroad Park (Palacios) – Non-facilitated trap drop-off site

West Mooring Boat Ramp (Sargent) – Non-facilitated trap drop-off site

SAN ANTONIO BAY – Local TPWD coordinator Chris Steffen (361) 983-4425

Please visit San Antonio Bay Partnership’s site for more information about volunteering throughout the mid-coast.

Port O’Connor TPWD Docks — Facilitated trap drop-off site

Charlie’s Bait Stand — Non-facilitated trap drop-off site

Swan Point / Sanders Park Boat Ramp (Seadrift) – Non-facilitated trap drop-off site

Seadrift Marina – Non-facilitated trap drop-off site

Austwell Public Boat Ramp – Non-facilitated trap drop-off site

ARANSAS BAY – Local TPWD coordinator Alyx Bradley (361) 729-5429

Please visit San Antonio Bay Partnership’s site for more information about volunteering throughout the mid-coast.

Goose Island State Park Boat Ramp – Non-facilitated trap drop-off site

CORPUS CHRISTI BAY – Local TPWD coordinator Brian Bartram (361) 729-2328

South Conn Brown Harbor Public Ramp – Non-facilitated trap drop-off site

Ransom Channel Public Ramp – Non-facilitated trap drop-off site

UPPER LAGUNA MADRE – Local TPWD coordinator Ethan Getz (361) 431-6003

Bluff’s Landing Marina – Non-facilitated and trap drop-off site

Kaufer-Hubert Memorial Boat Ramp – Non-facilitated trap drop-off site

LOWER LAGUNA MADRE – Local TPWD coordinator Jason Ferguson (956) 350- 4490

Port Mansfield Navigation District Ramp – Non-facilitated trap drop-off site

Adolfe Thomae County Park – Non-facilitated trap drop-off site