Volunteers and boats needed for crab trap removal

Volunteers are needed to help clean the coast of abandoned crab traps at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18.

Boats and people are requested for the effort, a joint project between the Houston Zoo, the Galveston Bay Foundation and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Coastal Fisheries.

Volunteers with boats will aid in retrieving the crab traps from the local bayous, bays and estuaries, while others are needed to disassemble them.

Over the past 10 years, the program has helped remove more than 29,000 abandoned traps. These “ghost traps” are a threat to coastal and marine animals in the area, who can become trapped in them and die.

Volunteers can enter for a chance to win prizes, including a gas card, zoo tickets and tours, VIP passes to Moody Gardens and a Galveston Bay Foundation Membership.

There are three locations where volunteers can meet:

Houston Zoo volunteers can meet at the Chocolate Bayou Boat Ramp. For more information or to register, contact Rachel Rommel at 713-533-6836 or rrommel@houstonzoo.org.

Volunteers with the Galveston Bay Foundatin will meet at the Fort Anahuac County Ramp. For more information or to register, contact Julie Mintzer at 281-332-3381, ext. 207, or at jmintzer@galvbay.org.

Finally, those volunteering with TPWD Coastal Fisheries will meet at the Galveston Fat Boys Ramp. Contact Mike Stahl at 281-534-0110 or mike.stahl@tpwd.state.tx.us for more information.