Thousands of Abandoned Crab Pots, Other Derelict Gear, Targeted
Local Watermen Using Grappling Hooks to Retrieve Lost Gear

Annapolis, March 4, 2025 —The Oyster Recovery Partnership (ORP) has launched a five-day project to retrieve derelict fishing gear, mostly abandoned crab pots, near the mouths of the Severn and South Rivers near Annapolis. Beginning on Monday, 28 local watermen have been hired to retrieve thousands of pieces of abandoned gear identified using side-scan sonar technology.

Derelict fishing gear poses navigational risks for boaters, traps and kills marine life, and competes with active crab pots during the crabbing season. This week’s project, funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through the Marine Debris Program as part of the National Fishing Trap Removal, Assessment, and Prevention (TRAP) Program, is expected to retrieve thousands of pieces of abandoned gear.

Using maps of targeted gear locations, along with their local knowledge and vessels, watermen will use grappling hooks and other equipment to retrieve the derelict fishing gear. Recovered gear, some of which will be recycled and reused, will be offloaded at the maritime facility Discovery Village in Shady Side, Maryland.

“Since 2012, ORP has partnered with watermen to remove more than 30,000 derelict crab pots and other debris from Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay,” said Ward Slacum, Executive Director of the Oyster Recovery Partnership, an Annapolis-based nonprofit organization. “Removing this gear eliminates safety hazards and improves natural fishing environments.”

In 2023, the ORP-led project removed 2,345 pieces of derelict gear near the mouth of the Patapsco River near Baltimore. This year’s retrieval project is a joint effort involving ORP, the Maryland Geological Survey, NOAA, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Anne Arundel County, and Reliable Real Estate Services, the owner of Discovery Village.

“This is a special program because it allows local communities to tackle the issues that impact their environments and livelihoods the most, all under the same overarching goal,” said Kirk Havens, Director of the Center for Coastal Resources Management at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

“The Chesapeake Bay is an essential part of our county’s heritage and economy,” said Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman. “By removing derelict fishing gear, we are taking a significant step toward restoring the health of our waterways, ensuring the safety of our boating community, and supporting the livelihoods of our local watermen. This collaborative effort exemplifies our commitment to environmental stewardship and the resilience of our communities.”

The 28 watermen, hailing from Anne Arundel, Baltimore, St. Mary, and Caroline Counties, will work approximately eight hours per day throughout the week. Eric Cantler Jr., a commercial waterman from Annapolis, was selected by ORP in February to help with this effort. “Removing this abandoned gear is a priority of the local watermen community and we are proud to play a role in this project,” said Mr. Cantler.

For more information, please contact:
Dr. Kinsey Tedford
Oyster Recovery Partnership
[email protected]
(410) 990-4970 x1031

MEDIA NOTE: Access to Discovery Village, watermen, and ORP staff is available on request.