Those numbers don't seem too bad. I bet alot of those are non resident or first time crabbers.
It would take a good 10 minutes to kick down further to where those pots were so I did not check them out close up.(float tube)
I'm all for changing the law. If recreational crabbing is going to be closed on those days of the week, then clear red and white pots should be pulled or disabled by anyone.
The violation receiving the most LEO violations is failure to IMMEDIATELY annotate ones CRC. To some that might indicate a serious under reporting.......but the experience of the creel survey folks at the ramps indicates a much better rate of compliance. Is LE being really good or are they being far too picky?
The problems of pulling someone else's pots start with you potentially coming into conflict with the owner. Next would be with LE; "Honest Officer, its a lost pot and I am simply doing my part for resource conservation."
At some point there was some talk about providing some non-LEOs authorization to retrieve pots but nothing on that lately.
My big issue is with floaters or buoys that are only visible at extremely low tide. Those are prime candidates for becoming derelict gear. As I mentioned, I have pulled some of those to shallow water and left them for LE to retrieve.