November 12, 2025 — The North Carolina Coastal Federation is seeking commercial fishers to take part in its annual Lost Fishing Gear Recovery Project, a large-scale effort that removes derelict crab pots and other debris from coastal waters each winter.
The project, which began in 2014, employs local commercial captains and their crews to help clear lost crab pots and abandoned gear from North Carolina’s sounds. The 2026 cleanup is scheduled for January 1–31, and applications are open through December 12 on the federation’s website.
Participating captains must hold a valid North Carolina standard commercial fishing license. Those working in the state’s southeast region will have a later window — March 1–15 — with a separate call for applicants expected early next year.
“Every year, crab pots and other fishing gear are lost in our sounds in a variety of ways,” the Coastal Federation stated. “Lost gear can get hung up or drift into channels, creating serious hazards for boaters, wildlife, and fishermen.”
The initiative is conducted in partnership with the North Carolina Marine Patrol, and in 2025, participating crews retrieved 2,136 crab pots from select coastal areas.