Lost Crab Pots Safer with Rot Cord
Escape Cord Protects Marine Animals From Derelict Crab Gear
In Puget Sound an estimated 372,000 crabs die in abandoned crab pots each year according to the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative, a group authorized by the US Congress to protect marine resources. In Louisiana an estimated four to ten million blue crabs are similarly killed in derelict crab pots each year, according to the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission.
Escape Cords on Crab Pots Protect Crab Populations
Crab pots have lids and escape panels that are tied shut when the pot is baited and deployed. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the fish and game departments of several US states, require these panels to be secured with escape cord rather than synthetic string, rope or wire. This ensures if the pot is lost or abandoned, it will not continue trap and kill animals for years to come.
What is an Escape Cord?
Escape cord, also called rot cord, is simply a natural fiber string with a diameter of 1/8 inch or less. Cotton string is most commonly used, but any untreated natural fiber string such as hemp, sisal, or jute will work equally well. Specific requirements vary from place to place, so crabbers should check local fishing regulations for the exact specification in their area.
How the Escape or Rot Cord Works
When a crab pot is lost or abandoned, the biodegradable escape cord usually deteriorates in seawater within thirty to ninety days. This allows the escape hatch and/or lid of the pot to open, freeing any living animals inside. It also renders the pot useless, so it can no longer trap and kill more animals.
Most New Crab Pots Are Equipped with Escape Cord
Most, but not all, crab pots currently being sold in the US and Canada come equipped with escape cords. It is difficult to determine fiber content visually. Crabbers can check the fiber content of their cord by holding a lit match to the end of of the cord. Natural fiber string will singe and burn, while synthetic cord will melt.
Avoid Losing Crab Pots
Lost crab pots pose a threat to marine life, and they are expensive to replace. To avoid loss:
- Use proper crab pot buoys that are clearly visible to boats.
- Use weighted line so it sinks below the surface and cannot be accidentally cut by the prop of a passing boat.
- Use the correct length of line for the depth and the tidal variance of the water being fished.
- Avoid setting pots in ferry lanes or busy navigational channels.
- Monitor VHF radio broadcasts for information on log boom movement and research vessel activity.
And just in case a pot is lost, use crab pots equipped with escape cords.
