February 6th, 2014
Crab trap removal from Texas bays
This is Passport to Texas
Crab traps—abandoned by their owners in Texas bays—continue to snare crabs, sport fish and other marine life. Since 2002 TPW, its partners and volunteers have removed traps annually during a 10 day cleanup.
04— And we’ve removed 30,449 traps to date.
Coastal biologist, Art Morris, says one derelict trap can ensnare 26 crabs a year; since the removal program, a half million crabs have been spared. This year’s cleanup is February 21 through March second.
14— Anytime during that closure, anybody can remove traps from the bays. But, on Saturday the 22nd, we’ll have our main event day, where we have our staff facilitating some of the sites on the coast and some of our partners will be facilitating some of our sites on the coast.
The program welcomes volunteers with boats, as well as those who wish to work on shore.
18—We will pass out gloves and tarps for people; we will have water available at our facilitated sites. All ages can participate. We’ve had boy scout troops come out and help out. We’ve had the elderly and everybody in between that’s spent significant time doing this.
At some locations along the coast, partners and volunteers even have cleanup parties.
11— There are some places that have barbeques and hot dog and hamburger grills going. Some of these places have had a party every year and really get into it.
Contact your local coastal fisheries field stations, or visit the TPW website for details about getting involved.
The Sport Fish Restoration program Supports our series…For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in Conservation, Saltwater | Comments Off on Conservation: Crab Trap Removal, 2
February 5th, 2014
Picking up abandoned crab traps in Texas bays
This is Passport to Texas
Crab traps lost or forgotten in the gulf kill crabs as well as other marine and shore life.
04— But blue crabs, stone crabs, and sheepshead are the big three.
Throughout the years rogue traps have ensnared countless species of game and sport fish, says coastal biologist, Art Morris.
22— We’ve [also] seen things like Diamondback Terrapins—which are a species of special concern—as well as river prawns, other turtles (not sea turtles, but other freshwater turtles). We’ve removed the remains of an otter out of a trap; we’ve seen the remains of birds that have been caught in these traps once the traps have been washed onshore. These are prolific killing machines.
Prior to 2002, only Game Wardens or the trap owners could remove the devices legally from surf or shore. Until then, the derelict traps kept racking up kills. But in 2001, the Texas legislature stepped in.
19— The Texas Legislature saw to it that we [TPWD] needed authority to create an abandoned crab trap removal program. And the grated us the authority to do that. And what that looks like today is a 10 day closure for the use of traps; any traps that are left in the water [during that time] are considered abandoned and classified as litter. So, anybody can remove them.
We’ll have details about the 2014 Crab Trap Cleanup – and how you can help – on tomorrow’s show.
The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series…For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in Conservation, Saltwater | Comments Off on Conservation: Crab Trap Removal, 1
February 4th, 2014
Birders on the lookout for…well…birds.
This is Passport to Texas
Texas provides important habitat for species migrating throughout the US and North America. The annual Great Texas Birding Classic – April 15th through May 15th –raises money to conserve that habitat.
09—By paying entry fees, by getting a sponsor for your team, you are donating money to grants that we’re going to award for habitat projects here in our state.
Shelly Plant nature tourism manager for TPW, says the tournament is statewide this year, with an expanded date range, creating new opportunities for birders.
26—We have made this so easy for anyone, anywhere in the state to participate. You can now go in your backyard; you can go down the street to your favorite park. You can travel wherever you wanted and you can do this anywhere. In addition, by having it open from April 15 to May 15, it makes it very easy to blend with whatever your schedule is. So, hopefully, we’ll have more teams than ever before, which means more registration fees, which means larger grants than we’ve ever given, which is better for the birds.
There are tournaments for all ages, interests, and abilities…and registration fees are lower than they’ve ever been.
06—So, hopefully, by taking these steps, we’ve made this as easy as possible for anyone who likes biding or birds to get out here and participate in the birding classic.
The Great Texas Birding Classic is April 15 through May 15, and registration deadline is April 1st. Find details at birdingclassic.org.
For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in Birding, Conservation, Events | Comments Off on Birding/Wildlife: Birding Classic, 2
February 3rd, 2014
Bird watching along the coast
This is Passport to Texas
What started 18 years ago as a way for Texas Parks and Wildlife to promote its Coastal Birding Trails and fund conservation projects, the Great Texas Birding Classic has since become one of the country’s premier birding tournaments.
08—The birding classic allows you to test your skills and see how you rank against other birders here, in one of the best birding locations in the world.
Shelly Plante oversees nature tourism for the agency. Once held exclusively along the Texas coast, in 2013 the tournament became statewide.
07—You can now go in your backyard; you can go down the street to your favorite park; you can travel wherever you wanted, and you can do this anywhere.
The Birding classic has an expanded date range.
17—From April 15th through May 15th. You get to pick what day you participate. You can pick that based on the weather, on your team’s schedules –whatever works for you. In the past we designated specific days for a tournament, and everybody had to compete on those specific days regardless of weather.
Register your team for the Great Texas Birding Classic by April 1, and compete April 15 through May 15. There’s more information at birdingclassic.org.
For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in Birding, Conservation, Events | Comments Off on Birding/Wildlife: Birding Classic, 1
January 31st, 2014
Fishing with borrowed tackle
This is Passport to Texas
If one of your New Year’s resolutions included trying your hand at angling… but you don’t want to spend money on tackle until you know you’re going to like the sport… Texas Parks and Wildlife has a tackle loaner program for folks like you.
15—The tackle loaner program is a program in which we provide different sites with basic fishing rods and reels and some very basic tackle so that citizens can borrow that equipment and go fishing.
Ann Miller oversaw aquatic education at parks and wildlife before retiring.
16—When you go to a tackle loaner site to check out equipment, you’ll receive a little tackle box with basic hooks and bobbers and sinkers of different sizes. You’ll also be able to check out a very basic spin casting rod and reel.
Anyone over 17 will need a fishing license to check out equipment. Persons under 18 must have an adult check out the tackle for them.
15—Each tackle loaner site has a simple form that the person who checks out the equipment would sign, saying that ‘yes’ they will bring the equipment back. And you will just leave an ID there –you can check it out for up to a week.
The Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series and funds winter rainbow trout stocking in Texas. So borrow some tackle and reel one in.
For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
Posted in Fishing, Freshwater, Saltwater | Comments Off on Angling: Tackle Loaner Program
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