According to Chat GPT, illegal or abandoned crab pots—known as “ghost pots”—are a growing concern in the York River, with thousands being removed due to their environmental impact.
The ones pictured here are not abandoned, just illegal. They form the end of a long string of pots recently dropped along the rum line running east from R-2. These four are inside Sarah Creek Channel and therefore a menace to mariners. I sent the photo to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission for their enforcement through the Virginia Marine Police.
The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) has been actively working to remove derelict or ghost crab pots from the York River and the broader Chesapeake Bay. These pots are often lost due to storms, boat traffic, or improper placement, and they continue to trap marine life long after being abandoned.
In February 2025, VIMS reported removing thousands of these ghost pots, which pose serious threats to navigation, local ecosystems, and species like turtles and muskrats.
In the past few days, we have seen two ghost pots that are likely newer than older and simply drifting away from their original position. Regardless, snagging the line on the prop or the keel or the rudder is a genuine hazard to be avoided.
⚠️ Why Ghost Pots Are a Problem
1. Unintended trapping: Abandoned pots continue to catch crabs and other animals, leading to unnecessary deaths and ecological disruption.
2. Navigation hazards: Floating lines and submerged cages can damage boats or become entangled in propellers.
3. Habitat damage: Pots can crush sensitive bottom habitats and disrupt natural sediment flow.
🦀 Legal Crabbing Rules in Virginia
To prevent illegal crabbing practices:
4. Recreational crabbers may use up to two commercial-style crab pots without a license, but only for personal use and within daily limits (one bushel of hard crabs and two dozen peeler crabs).
5. Commercial crabbers must follow strict seasonal limits. For 2025, the lawful season for hard crab pots is March 17 through November 30.
6. Licensing is required for additional gear or larger operations, and violations can result in fines or confiscation of equipment.
🛠️ Enforcement and Cleanup
7. VIMS collaborates with local watermen and environmental groups to locate and remove ghost pots.
8. Public awareness campaigns aim to educate crabbers on proper gear use and retrieval.
9. Technology like sonar mapping and GPS tracking is being used to identify derelict gear hotspots.
Pirate Ship
Meanwhile, here is a photo of an unidentified ketch or schooner anchored off Sarah Creek, away from the rogue pots. It looks like a pirate ship and didn’t seem to have anyone on board.
History Revised
As the sailing season nears an end, I’ve begun to revise the paintings of the Battle of the Capes. The painting above shows the famous original used in the History Talk to couples and families. The next two show the guns more vividly. Note as well as the rocking waves, which affect the angle of the cannon fire.
Cancer Sails
I recently agreed to be a captain as well as first mate for Sail Beyond Cancer, on a 41-foot Beneteau. Since launching their mission sails on June 22, 2025, they have:
-
Completed 43 cancer respite sails on the beautiful York River
-
Scheduled 20 more sails to bring cancer patients sailing
-
Provided 249 individuals the chance to leave CANCER ASHORE for three precious hours of healing and connection
