http://marinedebrisblog.wordpress.com/2014/07/31/phantom-menace-derelict-traps-in-florida-keys-and-u-s-virgin-islands/

Phantom Menace: Derelict Traps in Florida Keys and U.S. Virgin Islands

July 31, 2014 by NOAA Marine Debris Program

Guest Blogger: Gabrielle Renchen, Biological Scientist with the Florida
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

In an effort to understand regional derelict trap issues, two projects
with recently published papers were funded by the NOAA Marine Debris
Program.

Traps become marine debris as they are lost or abandoned, and are then
usually referred to as ?derelict?. The impacts of derelict fishing traps
are three fold. (1) Derelict traps can continue to ensnare and kill fish
and other organisms. Fish that die in derelict traps won?t be part of
the harvestable catch for fishermen, and won?t reproduce in the future.
(2) Derelict traps are lost to the fishermen, who will need to replace
every lost trap. (3) Derelict traps damage the habitat, which can
negatively impact where the fish live and eat.