FOR MO RE INFO CLICK HERE https://www.brazoriacountytx.gov/depar tments/parks-department/san-luis-pass
\nThe Christmas Bay Founda tion encourages responsible recreational use of Texas waters and coastal r esources\, including fishing\, crabbing\, and boating. Unfortunately\, som e users neglect to leave areas “as they found them\,” not only with trash but with abandoned methods of long-term fishing\, such as mesh crab traps and trotlines. These are hazards to marine life as well as recreational us ers of the bay and can remain for months or years – doing continued damage out of sight and out of mind. The unattended fishing by crab traps is oft en referred to as “ghost fishing.” Abandoned traps can also damage sensiti ve habitats\, injuring wade fishers\, and damaging boats\, motors\, and ta ckle.
\nThe Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program (ACTRP) was created by Senate Bill 1410 during the 77th (2001) Legislative session. This bill granted the TPWD Commission authority to create a ten-day crab trap closur e that begins the third Friday of each February. Crab traps left in the w ater during this time are considered litter and may be disposed of appropr iately. Before this law\, only law enforcement officials could legally re move abandoned crab traps from Texas’ marine waters. Since 2002\, voluntee rs have removed over 40\,000 abandoned traps from Texas waters. Click here to view a short Y OUTUBE clip.
\nLaws allow you to remo ve crab traps for the ten-day period starting on the third Friday in Febru ary. The closure will be from February 16 2024 to February 25\, 2024\, wit h our volunteer event taking place on February 17\, 2024.
\nThe CBF organized the first mesh crab trap removal progr am in Christmas Bay in February 2002. Biologists estimated that over 11\,0 00 organisms were saved just during the week of the cleanup in 2002. Twent y-one species of organisms\, many commercially or recreationally important \, were observed in these traps with blue crab and stone crab representing 76% of the organisms observed.
\nThe CBF secured a dumpster from TP &WD\, volunteers wading\, kayaking & Jon boats were used to bring the trap s back to the Brazoria County boat ramp at CB. The dumpster was nearly fil led to capacity with the traps. Crab trap removal continued for the next s ix years. When you consider how the numbers of fish and crabs saved grow w ith each trap that is removed and is no longer a menace into the future\, the importance of this work to the health of the ecosystem cannot be overs tated.
\nIn 2015\, CBF relaunched the Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Pr ogram\, in partnership with the TP&WD and increased the effectiveness of t he project by securing the Brazoria County Search & Rescue team to provide airboats & pilots to take volunteers recruited by CBF on a search of Chri stmas Bay for the traps. The crab trap removal program was featured on the front page of the Galveston County Daily Newspaper.
\nCLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AT THE TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE
\n DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240217T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240217T163000 GEO:+29.07899;-95.249898 LOCATION:SAN LUIS PASS COUNTY PARK @ 14001 CR 257 Freeport\, TX 77541 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program 2024 URL:https://christmasbayfoundation.org/event/abandoned-crab-trap-removal-pr ogram-2024-2/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-WP-IMAGES-URL:thumbnail\;https://christmasbayfoundation.org/wp-content/up loads/2022/01/354A3801-2-300x228.jpg\;862\;655\,medium\;https://christmasb ayfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/354A3801-2-300x228.jpg\;862\;6 55\,large\;https://christmasbayfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/3 54A3801-2-300x228.jpg\;862\;655\,full\;https://christmasbayfoundation.org/ wp-content/uploads/2022/01/354A3801-2-300x228.jpg\;862\;655 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-4325@christmasbayfoundation.org DTSTAMP:20260928T001624Z CATEGORIES;LANGUAGE=en-US:Events CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:
FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE https://www.brazoriacountytx.gov/departme nts/parks-department/san-luis-pass
\nThe Christmas Bay Foundatio n encourages responsible recreational use of Texas waters and coastal reso urces\, including fishing\, crabbing\, and boating. Unfortunately\, some u sers neglect to leave areas “as they found them\,” not only with trash but with abandoned methods of long-term fishing\, such as mesh crab traps and trotlines. These are hazards to marine life as well as recreational users of the bay and can remain for months or years – doing continued damage ou t of sight and out of mind. The unattended fishing by crab traps is often referred to as “ghost fishing.” Abandoned traps can also damage sensitive habitats\, injuring wade fishers\, and damaging boats\, motors\, and tackl e.
\nThe Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program (ACTRP) was created by Senate Bill 1410 during the 77th (2001) Legislative session. This bill gra nted the TPWD Commission authority to create a ten-day crab trap closure t hat begins the third Friday of each February. Crab traps left in the wate r during this time are considered litter and may be disposed of appropriat ely. Before this law\, only law enforcement officials could legally remov e abandoned crab traps from Texas’ marine waters. Since 2002\, volunteers have removed over 40\,000 abandoned traps from Texas waters. Click here to view a short YOUT UBE clip.
\nLaws allow you to remove crab traps for the ten-day period starting on the third Friday in February \, with our volunteer event taking place on March 1\, 2025.
\nThe CBF organized the first mesh crab trap removal pro gram in Christmas Bay in February 2002. Biologists estimated that over 11\ ,000 organisms were saved just during the week of the cleanup in 2002. Twe nty-one species of organisms\, many commercially or recreationally importa nt\, were observed in these traps with blue crab and stone crab representi ng 76% of the organisms observed.
\nThe CBF secured a dumpster from TP&WD\, volunteers wading\, kayaking & Jon boats were used to bring the tr aps back to the Brazoria County boat ramp at CB. The dumpster was nearly f illed to capacity with the traps. Crab trap removal continued for the next six years. When you consider how the numbers of fish and crabs saved grow with each trap that is removed and is no longer a menace into the future\ , the importance of this work to the health of the ecosystem cannot be ove rstated.
\nIn 2015\, CBF relaunched the Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program\, in partnership with the TP&WD and increased the effectiveness of the project by securing the Brazoria County Search & Rescue team to provi de airboats & pilots to take volunteers recruited by CBF on a search of Ch ristmas Bay for the traps. The crab trap removal program was featured on t he front page of the Galveston County Daily Newspaper.
\nCLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AT THE TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE
\n DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250301T083000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250301T170000 GEO:+29.07899;-95.249898 LOCATION:SAN LUIS PASS COUNTY PARK @ 14001 CR 257 Freeport\, TX 77541 SEQUENCE:4363 SUMMARY:Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program 2025 URL:https://christmasbayfoundation.org/event/abandoned-crab-trap-removal-pr ogram-2025/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-WP-IMAGES-URL:thumbnail\;https://christmasbayfoundation.org/wp-content/up loads/2022/01/354A3801-2-300x228.jpg\;862\;655\,medium\;https://christmasb ayfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/354A3801-2-300x228.jpg\;862\;6 55\,large\;https://christmasbayfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/3 54A3801-2-300x228.jpg\;862\;655\,full\;https://christmasbayfoundation.org/ wp-content/uploads/2022/01/354A3801-2-300x228.jpg\;862\;655 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-4383@christmasbayfoundation.org DTSTAMP:20260928T001624Z CATEGORIES;LANGUAGE=en-US:Events CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:
FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE https://www.b razoriacountytx.gov/departments/parks-department/san-luis-pass
\nThe Christmas Bay Foundation encourages responsible recreation al use of Texas waters and coastal resources\, including fishing\, crabbin g\, and boating. Unfortunately\, some users neglect to leave areas “as the y found them\,” not only with trash but with abandoned methods of long-ter m fishing\, such as mesh crab traps and trotlines. These are hazards to ma rine life as well as recreational users of the bay and can remain for mont hs or years – doing continued damage out of sight and out of mind. The una ttended fishing by crab traps is often referred to as “ghost fishing.” Aba ndoned traps can also damage sensitive habitats\, injuring wade fishers\, and damaging boats\, motors\, and tackle.
\nThe Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program (ACTRP) was created by Senate Bill 1410 during the 77th (2001) Legislative session. This bill granted the TPWD Commission authority to create a ten-day crab trap closure that begins the third Fri day of each February. Crab traps left in the water during this time are co nsidered litter and may be disposed of appropriately. Before this law\, on ly law enforcement officials could legally remove abandoned crab traps fro m Texas’ marine waters. Since 2002\, volunteers have removed over 40\,000 abandoned traps from Texas waters. Click here to view a short YOUTUBE clip .
\nLaws allow you to remove crab traps for the ten-day p eriod starting on the third Friday in February (February 20 – March 1\, 20 26\, for this year)\, with our volunteer event taking place on February 21 \, 2026.
\nThe CBF organized the first mesh crab trap rem oval program in Christmas Bay in February 2002. Biologists estimated that over 11\,000 organisms were saved just during the week of the cleanup in 2 002. Twenty-one species of organisms\, many commercially or recreationally important\, were observed in these traps with blue crab and stone crab re presenting 76% of the organisms observed.
\nThe CBF secur ed a dumpster from TP&W\, volunteers wading\, kayaking & Jon boats were us ed to bring the traps back to the Brazoria County boat ramp at CB. The dum pster was nearly filled to capacity with the traps. Crab trap removal cont inued for the next six years. When you consider how the numbers of fish an d crabs saved grow with each trap that is removed and is no longer a menac e into the future\, the importance of this work to the health of the ecosy stem cannot be overstated.
\nIn 2015\, CBF relaunched the Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program\, in partnership with the TP&W and in creased the effectiveness of the project by securing the Brazoria County S earch & Rescue team to provide airboats & pilots to take volunteers recrui ted by CBF on a search of Christmas Bay for the traps. The crab trap remov al program was featured on the front page of the Galveston County Daily Ne wspaper.
\nKey 2026 Updates (for reference\, not part of the main text):
\nke volunteers recruited by CBF on a search of Christmas Bay for the traps. The crab trap removal program was featured on the front page of the Galveston County Daily Newspaper.
\nCLICK HERE FOR MO RE INFORMATION AT THE TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE
\n DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260221T083000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260221T123000 GEO:+29.07899;-95.249898 LOCATION:SAN LUIS PASS COUNTY PARK @ 14001 CR 257 Freeport\, TX 77541 SEQUENCE:4406 SUMMARY:Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program 2026 URL:https://christmasbayfoundation.org/event/abandoned-crab-trap-removal-pr ogram-2025-2/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-WP-IMAGES-URL:thumbnail\;https://christmasbayfoundation.org/wp-content/up loads/2026/01/0322-Cover-300x200.jpg\;752\;501\,medium\;https://christmasb ayfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/0322-Cover-300x200.jpg\;752\;5 01\,large\;https://christmasbayfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/0 322-Cover-300x200.jpg\;752\;501\,full\;https://christmasbayfoundation.org/ wp-content/uploads/2026/01/0322-Cover-300x200.jpg\;752\;501 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR