This environmental menace is receiving heightened attention as the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and William & Mary’s Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences, through the National Fishing Trap Removal, Assessment, and Prevention (TRAP) Program, spearhead coordinated efforts to remediate the issue. The program recently announced an allocation of $1.8 million across 13 projects nationwide, aiming to target the removal of thousands of derelict fishing traps and to develop data-driven solutions that can inform sustainable fisheries management.

Ghost traps primarily originate from commercial trap fisheries, which annually generate more than $1 billion in landings across the U.S. These traps are lost due to interactions between fishing vessels and gear, tumultuous storms, or structural degradation over time. Despite being abandoned and inaccessible to fishermen, these traps retain their function, continuing to ensnare both target and non-target species inadvertently. Such unchecked fishing leads to unregulated mortality, disrupts marine ecosystems, and undercuts future fishery yields — a costly externality that has often been overlooked.

The economic ramifications are staggering. Findings from a 2016 study posited that the removal of merely 10% of derelict crab pots and lobster traps could translate to an additional $831 million in global seafood landings each year. This statistic underscores both the severity of ghost fishing and the lucrative potential of targeted removal programs. Yet effective mitigation requires more than localized cleanups; it demands a comprehensive framework melding scientific research, community engagement, and policy innovation.

Responding to this challenge, the National TRAP Program received a significant $8 million, four-year grant from NOAA’s Marine Debris Program in 2023 to administer national efforts. This funding facilitates standardized data collection, regional cleanup initiatives, and the development of predictive models that quantify environmental and economic outcomes. By building a centralized database, the program enables cross-regional analysis of trap accumulation drivers, bycatch rates, and habitat impacts, providing a robust evidence base to guide regulatory reforms and industry practices.

During its inaugural year, the TRAP Program distributed $1.4 million among 11 projects, enabling the removal of over 7,000 derelict traps—amounting to more than 300,000 pounds of submerged debris. This success reflects a strong collaboration between scientists, local fishers, and conservation groups. These early interventions not only improve marine ecosystem health but also create employment opportunities, predominantly benefiting commercial fishers displaced by the side effects of ghost fishing.

Looking ahead, the 2026 funding round will allocate $1.8 million to thirteen new projects in states ranging from Maine to California. The collective goal is to remove in excess of 8,000 ghost traps. Beyond gear retrieval, the program emphasizes adaptive reuse and recycling of recovered materials to foster circular economy principles within fishing communities. By embedding local knowledge and stakeholder participation, the TRAP Program invigorates a grassroots approach to a global marine conservation issue.

The data gathered through these projects is slated for detailed statistical evaluation by the Policy Innovation Lab, a collaboration between VIMS and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Their analyses will dissect ecological and economic variables pertaining to derelict traps, unraveling the socio-environmental drivers behind gear loss and offering policy prescriptions for enhanced prevention, such as gear modifications, improved reporting, and storm resilience standards.

Several projects highlight innovative methodologies. For example, side-scan sonar technology allows precise identification of trap locations in turbid waters, facilitating targeted removals with minimal habitat disturbance. Meanwhile, SCUBA surveys enable direct diver recovery of traps in sensitive habitats inaccessible to surface vessels. These complementary approaches maximize both efficiency and conservation outcomes.

Engagement of commercial fishers as active participants in removal operations leverages their local expertise and fosters economic resilience, particularly during off-season periods. Several initiatives incorporate employment provisions that support displaced fishers while simultaneously addressing marine debris. This dual benefit model is critical for sustainable fisheries management, blending ecological restoration with social equity.

Additional outreach includes rigorous pre- and post-removal environmental monitoring, quantifying the efficacy of ghost trap removal efforts on resource recovery. Data outputs contribute to nationwide databases, enabling scalable replication of successful strategies and informing marine spatial planning initiatives aimed at minimizing ghost fishing impacts.

By harmonizing science, stakeholder collaboration, and policy innovation, this concerted effort offers a beacon of hope against the pervasive problem of ghost fishing. This multi-million dollar investment not only safeguards the marine environment and fishery economics but also galvanizes a national movement toward responsible ocean stewardship and the revival of coastal communities dependent upon these invaluable marine resources.

Subject of Research: Marine conservation and fisheries sustainability focusing on derelict fishing gear (“ghost traps”)

Article Title: Battling the Underwater Menace: National Efforts to Eradicate Derelict Ghost Traps from U.S. Coastal Waters

News Publication Date: 2024

Web References:

• National TRAP Program website: https://trapprogram.org/
• Virginia Institute of Marine Science news: https://www.vims.edu/newsandevents/topstories/2024/trap-subawards-announcement.php
• NOAA Marine Debris Program: https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

Image Credits: Jordan Salafie, Oyster Recovery Partnership

Keywords: Fisheries, Conservation ecology, Marine resources, Natural resources conservation

Mangrove ecosystems, with their intricate, aerial root systems adapted to saline environments, act as formidable natural buffers against storm surges by dissipating wave energy and reducing floodwater velocities. These coastal forests allow saltwater to be filtered into freshwater and foster essential ecological functions. Despite covering an estimated 600,000 acres in Florida’s southern coastal zone, mangroves have often been overlooked in economic valuations for flood risk management. This study addresses that critical gap by simulating the spatially variable protective effects of mangroves on specific coastal property portfolios.

The results are staggering: mangroves reduced combined surge and flood damage estimates by approximately $725 million during Hurricane Irma and by $4.1 billion during Hurricane Ian. Annually, for Collier County alone, the study predicts that mangroves contribute an approximate $67 million in avoided storm surge losses. These figures are grounded in sophisticated, industry-grade computational models that integrate hydrodynamic surge data with property vulnerability profiles, thereby providing stakeholder-relevant insights for insurance, urban planning, and conservation policies.

One of the most novel findings is the spatial heterogeneity in mangrove protection. While properties situated landward of mangrove belts consistently benefit from reduced surge depths and financial losses, those located seaward—directly in front of mangroves—sometimes experience elevated risks. This paradox arises from altered wave reflection and flow patterns where mangroves influence the physical oceanographic conditions in complex manners that may amplify localized flooding for some coastal frontiers. Therefore, risk assessments must consider this nuanced spatial variability rather than assuming uniform mangrove benefits.

The research harnessed state-of-the-art catastrophe risk models commonly used in the insurance industry, a first for ecological coastal defenses. Moody’s RMS provided essential modeling infrastructure, combining hydrodynamic simulation outputs with property-level exposure data to estimate the economic impact of storm surges with and without mangrove cover. This collaboration bridges natural science and risk finance, highlighting how incorporating ecosystem services into financial risk models can elevate ecosystem conservation as a tangible, economically defensible strategy.

Dr. Siddharth Narayan, the study’s lead author and a professor of coastal studies at ECU, emphasizes the real-world utility of these findings. Comparing the Florida mangrove results with previous findings in the northeastern US for salt marsh wetlands during Hurricane Sandy, Narayan stresses that nature-based solutions provide measurable reductions in property damage—between 14 to 30 percent in surge-induced loss due to mangrove presence in Florida. This quantification enables stakeholders from policymakers to insurers to recognize mangroves as cost-effective, scalable climate adaptation tools.

Florida’s coastal environment, characterized by sprawling expensive developments and increasing hurricane intensities, is particularly susceptible to surge-induced flood hazards. Mangroves play a pivotal ecological and physical role in this context, filtering pollutants, stabilizing sediments, and buffering storm impacts. However, this study underscores that preservation efforts must be strategic, taking into account where property developments occur relative to natural barriers. Developing in front of mangroves can undermine the very protection these forests offer, heightening risk exposure for storm impacts.

The study situates itself within a broader scientific discourse that increasingly recognizes the dual role of natural habitats as both ecological treasures and critical infrastructural assets. By translating the flood mitigation capacities of mangroves into dollar values understood by insurance and real estate markets, the research aims to steer funding and regulatory incentives toward mangrove conservation. This could have far-reaching implications for coastal resilience planning as sea level rise and storm frequency escalate under climate change.

Funding support from the Walton Family Foundation, the Herbert W. Hoover Foundation, AXA Research Fund, and the National Science Foundation enabled this interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together experts in coastal ecology, risk modeling, and conservation. The multi-institutional team included prominent figures such as CCCR’s director Michael Beck, whose leadership emphasizes that valuation of ecosystem services is crucial because society protects what it values monetarily.

Expanding beyond Florida, the modeling framework developed offers a replicable blueprint for assessing mangrove benefits globally in tropical and subtropical coastlines. As more regions confront increasing exposure to severe tropical cyclones and their attendant flood risks, integrating these natural defenses into spatial planning and insurance underwriting can substantially reduce economic losses and safeguard vulnerable communities.

The study also serves as a cautionary message regarding the unintended consequences of coastal development in mangrove-rich environments. Urban and infrastructure projects located seaward of mangroves could disrupt natural flow regimes and diminish overall coastal resilience, emphasizing that future planning must be underpinned by robust geospatial risk analyses that consider ecosystem interactions with storm surge dynamics at a granular level.

In conclusion, this pioneering research bridges ecological science and financial risk analysis to demonstrate the immense, spatially diverse flood protection benefits of mangroves in Florida. It challenges traditional hard-engineered flood defenses by illustrating that natural ecosystems, when preserved and intelligently integrated into coastal management, can offer cost-effective and sustainable solutions against escalating climate threats. Mangroves are not merely biodiversity hotspots but indispensable frontline defenders that save billions of dollars in property losses during hurricanes, a true testament to the power of nature-based resilience.

Subject of Research: Not applicable

Article Title: The spatially variable effects of mangroves on flood depths and losses from storm surges in Florida

News Publication Date: 14-Oct-2025

Web References:
https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-sustainability/fulltext/S2949-7906(25)00227-7

References:
Narayan, S., Thomas, C.J., Nzerem, K., Matthewman, J., Shephard, C., Geselbracht, L., Beck, M.W. (2025). The spatially variable effects of mangroves on flood depths and losses from storm surges in Florida. Cell Reports Sustainability. DOI: 10.1016/j.crsus.2025.100531

Image Credits: Image by J. Kendall-Bar, UC Santa Cruz

Keywords: Climate change mitigation, Risk reduction

Kelp forests are complex marine ecosystems found worldwide, particularly thriving in temperate coastal waters such as those off the Pacific coast of North America, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Australia. These underwater forests serve as crucial habitats for numerous marine species, supporting biodiversity and providing economic value through fisheries. Additionally, kelp forests play an essential role in carbon sequestration, absorbing CO2 and helping mitigate global climate change. Acting as natural coastal buffers, they also protect shorelines from erosion by dissipating wave energy, underscoring their ecological and socioeconomic importance.

However, escalating marine heatwaves—exacerbated by anthropogenic climate change—have inflicted catastrophic damage on kelp forests, especially along the West Coast of North America. The 2014–2016 North Pacific marine heatwave, dubbed “the Blob,” caused unprecedented warming of ocean waters, resulting in widespread kelp mortality. Compounding this thermal stress is the surge in sea urchin populations, which have proliferated following sharp declines in predatory sea stars. These overgrazing urchins effectively devastate kelp habitats, hindering natural recovery processes and threatening the long-term stability of these ecosystems.

In this context, MPAs have emerged as a promising tool to enhance ecological resilience. MPAs are designated sections of the ocean where human activity, particularly fishing, is regulated or restricted to protect habitats and marine biodiversity. However, the level of protection varies widely among MPAs, ranging from fully no-take reserves to areas permitting considerable extractive activities, including destructive fishing practices like bottom trawling. The UCLA study has focused on MPAs with explicit restrictions on fishing, providing a clearer understanding of how such regulatory measures impact kelp forest dynamics.

By analyzing 54 MPAs and their corresponding reference sites along California’s coast, researchers compared kelp forest cover from 1984 to 2022 using satellite imagery. This rigorous comparative approach allowed them to isolate the effects of MPAs on kelp resilience to heat stress, distinguishing between resistance (avoiding loss) and recovery (regaining cover) after marine heatwaves. The study confirms that kelp within MPAs demonstrated greater post-heatwave recovery relative to unprotected sites, especially notable in southern California, where heat stress and ecological pressures are often more severe.

The mechanisms behind this enhanced recovery appear linked to the protection of key predator species within MPAs. Species such as lobsters and sheephead fish, which prey upon herbivorous invertebrates like sea urchins, help control urchin populations and reduce overgrazing. In the absence of these predators, unchecked urchin populations can decimate kelp stands. Thus, MPAs indirectly support kelp regeneration by maintaining the integrity of trophic interactions critical to ecosystem balance. This trophic cascade demonstrates the intricate connections between species that underlie ecosystem resilience.

Despite these encouraging findings, the researchers caution that the protective effect of MPAs is not uniform across all sites. Variability in environmental conditions, MPA management quality, enforcement efficacy, and local oceanographic features influence outcomes. For example, areas characterized by localized upwelling tend to be cooler and nutrient-rich, fostering kelp populations with greater thermal tolerance, thereby naturally enhancing resilience. Strategically situating MPAs in such dynamic environments could maximize conservation effectiveness.

Moreover, the study highlights the importance of integrating kelp forest monitoring into long-term conservation strategies and global biodiversity frameworks. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted at COP15 in 2022, sets ambitious targets to safeguard at least 30% of marine and terrestrial habitats by 2030. This research underscores the utility of kelp forests as bioindicators that reflect ecological health and climate resilience in marine protected systems, thereby providing valuable feedback for adaptive management and policy formulation.

Co-author Emelly Ortiz-Villa, a PhD researcher at UCLA’s Department of Geography, emphasizes that MPAs help buffer kelp against climate-induced disturbances, offering ecosystem services beyond just conservation. The study’s evidence suggests that MPAs not only support biodiversity preservation but also bolster ecosystem functions critical to human well-being, such as carbon sequestration and coastal protection. This multifaceted benefit strengthens the case for expanding and effectively managing MPAs in a warming world.

Senior author Professor Kyle Cavanaugh adds that the results have significant implications for conservation planning. MPAs should be prioritized in regions poised to exhibit natural resilience—such as areas with frequent upwelling events or kelp populations adapted to warmer temperatures—to optimize the return on investment in ocean conservation. Understanding spatial and ecological nuances will be critical to designing MPAs that can withstand escalating climate threats and foster robust marine ecosystems.

The study also draws attention to the pitfalls of designating MPAs without enforcing adequate protections. Many so-called MPAs globally permit activities detrimental to ecosystem health, diminishing their potential to contribute to resilience. Robust enforcement, clearly defined management regulations, and community engagement are necessary components of successful MPAs that can mitigate the increasing frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves.

Looking ahead, the research team advocates for further investigation into the drivers of uneven MPA effectiveness. Identifying the interplay of biological, physical, and managerial factors will equip stakeholders with knowledge to tailor conservation efforts adapted to local environmental realities. Such adaptive management is essential as climate change accelerates and marine ecosystems face unprecedented threats.

This landmark study vividly illustrates the critical role of spatial management in safeguarding the future of kelp forests, ecosystems integral to marine biodiversity and carbon cycling. As the ocean continues to warm, strategies that integrate MPAs with broader climate mitigation efforts offer a beacon of hope for protecting these vibrant underwater forests and the myriad species and communities that depend on them.

Subject of Research: Not applicable
Article Title: Marine protected areas enhance climate resilience to severe marine heatwaves for kelp forests
News Publication Date: 19-Aug-2025
Web References: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.70112
Image Credits: Ortiz-Villa et al.
Keywords: Marine ecology, Marine conservation, Marine ecosystems, Climate change