More than 35 volunteers and members of the commercial fishing community removed derelict lobster traps from the sand between Ellwood and Haskell’s beaches, filling a 40-foot dumpster with the metal debris, and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper thanks the volunteers who spent the day cleaning up the coastline on Saturday.
“By working together today, we were able to remove thousands of pounds of derelict fishing gear that would otherwise have persisted on this beach for years and years,” said Ben Pitterle, Channelkeeper’s interim executive director.
Volunteers used shovels, wire cutters, and pry bars to dig out buried traps, remove rocks and debris, and take them offshore to a commercial fishing boat. Traps were clipped onto a rope line and winched out from shore through the surf to a commercial fishing vessel.
Chris Voss from Fishermen of Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara Harbor Commissioner Mike Nelson loaded traps and transported them to the Santa Barbara Harbor for proper disposal.
In May, Channelkeeper launched a Watershed Brigade initiative to mobilize community volunteers to clear marine debris from local beaches. Last month, Watershed Brigade volunteers surveyed the coast for abandoned lobster traps and identified 44 traps along the coastline.
Channelkeeper reviewed the data and determined the highest concentration of traps was on the stretch of sand between Haskell’s and Ellwood beaches. Volunteers worked together to remove all of the buried traps.
Derelict lobster traps are a serious environmental problem. Each winter, storms that bring heavy swells dislodge lobster traps. While in the ocean, ghost traps can continue to trap wildlife.
As ghost traps drift, they can entangle marine organisms, release microplastics, and pose safety hazards to vessels and beachgoers. Ultimately, they wash up on beaches as pollution.
During the 2019-20 season, 6,503 lobster traps were reported as lost off California’s coast; this statistic is considered low because it reflects only reported losses. The U.S. Department of Fish & Wildlife calls marine debris “one of the most pervasive threats to the health of the world’s coastal areas, oceans, and waterways.”
“Our Watershed Brigade was designed for exactly this kind of project,” said Pitterle. “Our community is full of individuals who want to make a difference and help keep our beaches, creeks, and backcountry free of litter.”
The Watershed Brigade comprised of volunteers working together to clear trash and debris from local trails, creeks, rivers, urban areas, and beaches. Each month, the group focuses on cleaning up a different target area.
“Being a member of the Watershed Brigade is a rewarding way to have a positive impact on our environment,” said volunteer Michele Drexler. “It not only benefits our local coastline, but it also has an impact on the global issues caused by pollution,”
To join the Watershed Brigade, visit https://www.sbck.org/brigade.
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper was founded in 1999 as a program of the Environmental Defense Center and became an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2001. It has worked to protect water quality, restore aquatic ecosystems, advocate for clean water, enforce environmental laws, and educate citizens in implementing solutions to water pollution and aquatic habitat degradation.
To learn more, visit www.sbck.org.