Planet Fishing Tackle Florida: Ridding Biscayne Bay of Abandoned Traps

Biscayne Bay, a vital part of Southern Florida's ecosystem, is facing a critical issue - abandoned crab and lobster traps that continue to harm marine life. To address this problem, the Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection joined forces to host the first-ever Ghost Trap Rodeo in Southern Biscayne Bay. This event aimed to remove as many abandoned traps as possible from the waterways before they cause further damage.

Organized by charter boat captain Neill Holland, who founded Ocean Aid 360, a conservation NGO that has removed over 195,000 pounds of marine debris from Florida waterways since 2018, this effort is crucial in addressing the crisis affecting Biscayne Bay. The goal was to pull out as many ghost traps as possible before they claim more lives.

Ghost traps are abandoned fishing gear that continue to trap and kill marine life, including fish, crabs, and lobsters. Once marine life enters these traps, it dies, and the trap serves as bait for additional creatures, creating a cycle of harm until either the trap disintegrates or is removed from the water. Unfortunately, nobody knew about these abandoned traps, leaving them to wreak havoc on the bay's ecosystem.

The Ghost Trap Rodeo was part of the official launch of the Biscayne Bay Friendly Campaign, which aims to protect and preserve this vital resource. The event brought together experts, community members, and environmental organizations to tackle the issue head-on.

According to DERM project supervisor John Ricisak, 'These things can be really difficult to find' in the vast waters of Biscayne Bay. The recent extreme temperatures, with heat indexes reaching over 100 degrees, underscore the urgency of this task.

The success of the Ghost Trap Rodeo demonstrates that it is possible to make a significant impact when different stakeholders come together to address environmental issues. As Miami-Dade County and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection continue their efforts to protect Biscayne Bay, it's clear that every hand counts in saving this precious ecosystem.

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