For the past three years at the end of lobster fishing season, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper has surveyed local beaches and partnered with the Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara to remove derelict traps from area beaches.
The organization recently identified an onshore lobster trap debris hotspot between Ledbetter and Hendry’s beaches, and is inviting community members to help dig out the buried traps and place them at collection points.
The traps will then be loaded onto a commercial fishing vessel and transported to the Santa Barbara Harbor for reuse or proper disposal.
The volunteer event will be 8:30 a.m.-noon April 22. Participants will gather at La Plata Steps near Ledbetter Beach and walk about 2.5 miles along the beach toward Hendry’s Beach to remove traps. Protective clothing and closed-toe shoes are required as traps can have sharp edges.
Volunteers will use shovels, bolt cutters, and pry bars to dig out buried traps, remove rocks and debris, and stage traps in piles for removal offshore to a commercial fishing boat.
Fisherman Chris Voss from the Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara and his team will provide vessel support to load traps and transport them to the Santa Barbara Harbor.
In addition to cluttering up local beaches, derelict lobster traps can entangle marine wildlife, release microplastics, and create safety hazards for vessels and beachgoers, Channelkeeper said.
To sign up, visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4fa5ae2ba4fbc70-lobster3.
For more, visit www.sbck.org.