Ghost Pots - We don't need to pay anymore...

[buckshotgumbo]

Scott, I'd be one to lean more towards daisy chains to make a lost string easier to locate, as well as implimenting disposable panels in the event that the string is not found.
These seem, to me anyway, as the most logical solutions.
I don't know how daisy chains are fished, so I'm not sure what changes would need to be made to the boats and how they're worked.
Hopefully, the process would be simple, because obviously if it becomes cost prohibitive to work from the current platform the daisy chain idea would probably die right there.

Either way, changes like that are seldom made, regardless of industry, unless legislation is brought about to force them.

[dell30rb]

Civil. Thats funny. I talk about the problem and what i think are the best solutions, and two or three of you only talk about me. That kind of bash and run is symptomatic of the bigger problem.

Oh my!

I have repeatedly offered my opinion that this many pots didnt get lost by accident. I stand by that opinion based on magnitude of gear lost and the geographic location of studied loss and of density of recent loss based on condition of gear recovered and last but not least based on anecdotal claims of local watermen.

I seriously doubt commercial crabbers are abandoning their equipment. That's throwing money away. Can you please tell us how crabbers profit by intentionally "losing" perfectly good crab pots? If the pots are corroded and broken, they don't pose a kill threat. Most crab pot losses are likely from rec boaters (me) running over them.

Either way, changes like that are seldom made, regardless of industry, unless legislation is brought about to force them.

Education could be more effective than legislation.

I'm willing to bet if you went up to a crab fisherman and told him you knew of a simple technique for him to lose fewer pots without affecting crab catch, he'd want to hear what you had to say.

But wait, I forgot the crab fisherman are losing their crab pots on purpose - killing off the crabs they make a living catching.

[dell30rb]

TRhere is no evidence recs are accidentally running over floats. No evidence people are cutting lines to steal floats. In my opinion, this is all about crabbers cutting each other off. If I am wrong, the burden is still on the people who wish to plunder the bay for money.

and boom goes the dynamite

[coggi]

and boom goes the dynamite

Lmao

[Matt]

I don't believe crabbers are abandoning gear. I think there's a feud between the fulltime guys who stake out an area with crab and bait gear, and the part timers who casually move into any area that seems to have crabs. My opinion is based on what crabbers have told me, and the density of gear when crabs are running, and the amount of gear that is getting "lost" in those areas. Even if I am completely wrong, which I am not, crabbers are responsible for their gear. The uneducated comments in this forum prove that some crabbers are definitely NOT responsible for their gear.

[Matt]

for what its worth, I have never seen a fulltime crabber posting in any tidalfish forum

[coggi]

Lol, I know of 3 full time crabbers who post here. I guess I am only part time since I only crab 4 days a week.

[Matt]

lol the fulltime guys have no opinion?

[coggi]

http://www.thehulltruth.com/mid-atla...-who-list.html

There's plenty over there willing to debate you who are far more "educated " then myself and fulltime as well.

[dell30rb]

I don't believe crabbers are abandoning gear. I think there's a feud between the fulltime guys who stake out an area with crab and bait gear, and the part timers who casually move into any area that seems to have crabs. My opinion is based on what crabbers have told me, and the density of gear when crabs are running, and the amount of gear that is getting "lost" in those areas. Even if I am completely wrong, which I am not, crabbers are responsible for their gear. The uneducated comments in this forum prove that some crabbers are definitely NOT responsible for their gear.

I understand that feuding and loss may take place from time to time but I don't support your idea that it is a primary and chronic issue. And I do not agree with your statement 'no evidence exists that recs are accidentally running over floats'.