Abstract: A marine animal trap comprising entrance gate means including a plurality of plastic fingers having a relative buoyancy and arrangement to be maintained closed and to reclose by buoyancy action after an animal enters the trap by buoyant action. In preferred forms some fingers have a slight positive buoyancy and some have a slight negative buoyancy in water. A mounting frame suitably includes journal rods mounting said plurality of fingers for pivotal movement in a generally vertical manner, and stop means whereby when the trap is in water the nominal state of rest of at least some of the fingers is with the finger partially spanning the gate entrance and with such fingers in such position being restrained from outward pivotal movement, the fingers being nonetheless free to pivotally move inwardly so as to not impede animal ingress through the gate. The form, arrangement and placement of the fingers in the trap can vary.