Bottom Line—I tested TEDs for Randy Chambers in 2020 and could not expand or continue the testing due to the extreme reduction in catch (from average of 6.2 crabs (#1s) per pot in 17 pots to <2 small peelers per pot with TEDs ink the same line in Davis Creek, Mathew’s VA in June 2020). TEDs are not a commercially viable option for an already struggling fishery and they are not necessary due to the limited interaction with Commercial Crabbers in VA waters and the Diamondback Terrapin. This petition uses some hand-picked science to support their case and maximizes the percentages in their favor just like was pointed out about much of their derelict pot information/citations (see attached CBSAC report from 2018 signed by 14 other scientists that shows how hand-picking science to support your case “could mislead the public, policy makers, regulators, and fishery managers regarding the impact of derelict traps on the blue crab fishery.”
I also question the timing of this petition…due to the grant reductions by the new administration and the renewed emphasis on derelict pot removal based on the recent $8 million dollar NOAA grant to VIMS. I think this is why this petition seems to really point to derelict pots and less so on TEDs. I feel this is a round-about way to bring up the derelict pot issue again here in the state…an argument that we have beat to death and wasted entirely to much money and time from a federal and state level! We are probably at over $30+ million “studying” these things by a small group of scientist at VIMS that are driven by personal and professional greed who have consistently over-inflated numbers and artificially increased the negative impact of derelict pots (now to include killing the entire terrapin population) in order to keep the grant funding rolling in. I have to give it to them…they keep getting the money and I can only pray that at some point we can get some of that money pushed to things that are truly impacting the bay like pollution and predation (BLUE CATFISH!).
Please do not waste anymore resources (time, money, effort) on derelict pots of TEDs and plead with these biased, greed-driven “scientist” to put their effort on actually helping the bay and supporting domestic commercial fisheries instead of trying to destroy them.
respectfully,
Dan Knott