PARENT SESSION
Oral Session #23: Aquatic Ecology: Salt marshes, estuaries, ephemeral wetlands.
Presiding: D. Childers
Monday, August 5. 1:00 PM to 3:45 PM. Palo Verde Room, Radisson.
Effectiveness of excluder devices on crab pots at reducing capture and mortality of diamondback terrapins.
BUTLER, JOSEPH*,1, HEINRICH, GEORGE2, VALERIO, STEVEN1, 1 UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA2 CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG PARKS DEPARTMENT, ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
ABSTRACT- Bycatch mortality of diamondback terrapins in crab pots is the greatest threat to their existence. We will test if terrapin mortality is reduced using bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) on pots, and if BRDs affect crab capture. In May 2002 30 pots will be fished for 20 days. Fifteen pots will have BRDs and 15 will be controls. BRDs are 4.5 x 12 cm rectangles of 11 gauge wire that are affixed to the inner funnel openings of pot entrances to limit the dimensions. Terrapins are dimorphic, and the BRDs will impede the larger females from entering. Males could still enter pots, but because males often follow females into pots, this methodology should also secondarily reduce male entrapment. Pots will be deployed in tidal creeks where terrapins are known to occur. They will be placed in rows, with one BRD pot followed by a control about 20 meters apart. Pots will be baited and checked daily, and all captured terrapins and crabs will be measured. Control pots represent the expected capture number and sizes for both species, and those values will be compared to totals for BRD pots using a chi-square test.
KEY WORDS: terrapin, crab pot, Malaclemys, bycatch