Cable Ventless Trap Survey

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Background

The Cable Ventless Trap Survey is a six-year survey that began in 2023. The survey will evaluate changes in lobster and Jonah crab abundance and distribution along a wind farm cable route due to construction and operation of the wind farm.

Survey Design

The survey encompasses four stations, two inside the Narragansett Bay and two outside that are surveyed year-round with ventless and vented traps.

Survey Gear

Each station consists of three trap hauls, each at a fixed distance from the proposed cable route. On each trawl there are twelve traps: six ventless, three with rectangular vents, and three with circular vents. Traps are set and retrieved from commercial lobster vessels.

Sampling Methods

The traps are set on the groundline with the first six traps alternating between ventless and rectangular-vented traps and the remaining six traps alternating between ventless and circular-vented traps. Lobster and Jonah crab are sampled and information on sex, length, shell hardness, shell disease, egg stage, cull, and other information is collected. Additionally, lengths of finfish and crustaceans are also recorded for anything else caught in the trap.

The bottom type, bait (kept consistent), location, surface temp, and depth are also collected for each haul and the trap type is recorded.  

Sampling Frequency

Each station is sampled twice a month year-round.

For more information about the survey please contact Krista Ransier.