more about brDs
Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs) are required on the funnels (openings) of all commercial-style crab pots in New Jersey that are fished in waters 150 feet across (from shoreline to shoreline) or less at mean low water. Simply stated, they are to be used in man-made lagoons and narrow channels, but are not required on all crab pots. The NJ BRD sizes (2" x 6") were developed by Dr. Roger Wood of Stockton University and the Wetlands Institute, NJ in the late 1990's.
Since they are not required for all uses in New Jersey, Project Terrapin is providing BRDs (four and two in a bundle) to people who purchase traps. With generous donations and corporate support from Veolia North America and Jenkinson's Aquarium, we are able to fund BRD distribution. We reached our goal of 30,000+ BRDs in 2020. This means that we potentially outfitted 7,000 crab pots with BRDS in Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May Counties. In 2023 and 2024, we are supplying another 4500 BRDs to fit crab pots thanks to our gracious partners listed above.
Commercial crab pot with orange BRD in funnel.
MATES Project Terrapin students help to bundle the BRDs and distribute them to retailers that sell crab pots, and to one local crab pot manufacturer who installs them on his crab pots for sale in New Jersey.
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We would like to thank the following for distributing BRDs or selling crab pots with BRDs included...
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ACE Hardware (sells crab pots with BRDs)
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Lacey Marine, Lacey Township, NJ
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Creekside Outfitters, Waretown, NJ
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Grizz's Bait and Tackle, Lacey, NJ
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Joe's Welding, Pedricktown, NJ
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Ray Scott's Dock, Margate, NJ
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West Marine of Toms River and Tuckerton (sell crab pots with BRDs)
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Jenkinson's Aquarium, Pt. Pleasant, NJ
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Save Barnegat Bay, Toms River, NJ
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Betty and Nick's Bait & Tackle, Seaside Park, NJ ​
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MATES, 195 Cedar Bridge Drive, Stafford, NJ
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The Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences, Long Beach, NJ
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The Long Beach Township Marine Field Station in Holgate, NJ (distribution)
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The Tuckerton Seaport, Tuckerton, NJ
Special thanks to the American Sportsman/American Crab Pot Company in Manahawkin, NJ for including BRDs on their recreational crab pots and EZ Catch Traps in Staten Island, NY for promoting BRD usage.
A special thanks to Veolia North America for their generous support of conservation. Our amazing friends at Jenkinson's Aquarium in Point Pleasant, New Jersey always provide support. We also work with our partners The Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, New Jersey and The Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey. Please support the initiatives to promote a safer Barnegat Bay by properly outfitting crab pots. To properly outfit a crab pot, please visit WeCrabNJ.org.
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