Ghost fishing in derelict blue crab traps is ubiquitous and causes incidental mortality which can be reduced by trap removal programs. In an effort to scale the benefits of such removal programs, in the context of restoring the Gulf of Mexico after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, this paper calculates the ecological benefits of trap removal by estimating the extent of derelict blue crab traps across Gulf of Mexico waterbodies and combining these estimates with Gulf-specific crab and finfish mortality rates due to ghost fishing. The highest numbers and densities of traps are found in Louisiana, with estimates ranging up to 203,000 derelict traps across the state and up to 41 traps per square kilometer in areas such as Terrebonne Bay. Mortality rates are estimated at 26 crabs per trap per year and 8 fish per trap per year. The results of this analysis indicate a Gulf-wide removal program targeting 10% of derelict traps over the course of 5 years would lead to a combined benefit of more than 691,000 kg of crabs and fish prevented from mortality in ghost fishing traps. These results emphasize the importance of ongoing derelict trap removal programs. Future work could assess additional benefits of trap removal programs, such as fewer entanglements of marine organisms, improved esthetics, and increases in harvestable catch. Lastly, this model could be utilized by fishery managers to calculate the benefits of other management options designed to decrease the extent and impact of derelict fishing gear.

在废弃的蓝蟹陷阱中捕捞鬼魂无处不在，并导致偶发性死亡，可通过去除陷阱程序降低死亡率。为了扩大此类清除计划的收益，在深水地平线漏油事件发生后恢复墨西哥湾的情况下，本文通过估算整个墨西哥湾被遗弃的蓝蟹陷阱的范围，计算了清除陷阱的生态效益。水体，并将这些估计值与因幽灵捕捞而导致的特定于海湾的蟹和有鳍鱼类的死亡率结合起来。诱捕器的数量和密度最高，在路易斯安那州，据估计，全州多达203,000个废弃的诱捕器，而在Terrebonne湾等地区，捕捞的诱集器每平方公里高达41个。估计死亡率为每个陷阱每年26只螃蟹，每年每个陷阱8条鱼。分析结果表明，在5年的时间里，针对10％的废弃诱捕器的海湾范围内的清除计划将带来超过691,000公斤的螃蟹和鱼类的总收益，而这些捕捞者可以避免在幽灵钓鱼诱捕器中的死亡。这些结果强调了正在进行的废弃诱捕器清除计划的重要性。未来的工作可能会评估捕集阱清除计划的其他好处，例如减少海洋生物的纠缠，提高美学水平以及增加可收获捕捞量。最后，渔业管理人员可以利用这一模型来计算其他旨在减少废弃渔具的范围和影响的管理方案的收益。防止了000公斤螃蟹和鱼类在幽灵捕鱼陷阱中的死亡。这些结果强调了正在进行的废弃诱捕器清除计划的重要性。未来的工作可能会评估捕集阱清除计划的其他好处，例如减少海洋生物的纠缠，提高美学水平以及增加可收获捕捞量。最后，渔业管理人员可以利用这一模型来计算其他旨在减少废弃渔具的范围和影响的管理方案的收益。防止了000公斤螃蟹和鱼类在幽灵捕鱼陷阱中的死亡。这些结果强调了正在进行的废弃诱捕器清除计划的重要性。未来的工作可能会评估捕集阱清除计划的其他好处，例如减少海洋生物的纠缠，提高美学水平以及增加可收获捕捞量。最后，渔业管理人员可以利用这一模型来计算其他旨在减少废弃渔具的范围和影响的管理方案的收益。