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LDWF to modify closed harvest season for blue crab

Posted at 12:19 PM, Sep 07, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-07 13:25:36-04

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission says that a proposed regulation could change the closed harvest season for mature female blue crab in 2019.

The rule would move the current closed season of mid-March through mid-April to September 9 through October 13, beginning in 2019. It would also ban the recreational harvest of female blue crab during the season.

LWFC says that the changes are expected to lessen the negative impacts experienced by the crab fishery and maintain protection Louisiana’s blue crab stock.

The proposed changes are as follows:

  • The recreational and commercial take of female blue crab from any of the waters of the state or the possession of female blue crabs while on waters of the state is prohibited for a thirty-five day period beginning the second Monday of September in 2019 (September 9 – October 13, 2019). All female blue crab in possession of any persons on the water shall be deemed to have been taken from the waters of the state.
    • These regulations will replace the previous 30-day closure, imposed in 2017, and the 60-day female harvest restriction imposed in the spring of 2018, and the previously proposed restriction in spring of 2019.
  • Removal of the sunset provision on the currently established ban on the commercial harvest of immature female blue crabs, making the ban permanent.

Regulations on commercial female blue crab harvest to remain in effect in 2018 and 2019 are as follows:

  • Commercial harvest of immature female blue crabs is illegal. A commercial fisherman may possess an incidental take of immature female crabs in an amount not to exceed two percent of the total number of crabs that is possessed. Crabs in a work box, used to sort or cull undersized and/or immature female crabs, are not subject to the restriction while held aboard an active fishing vessel. (An immature female crab, also known as a “maiden” or “V-bottom” crab, can be identified as having a triangular shaped apron on her abdomen. A mature female crab can be identified as having a dome-shaped apron on her abdomen.)
  • There is an exception for immature, female blue crabs held for processing as softshell crabs or being sold to a processor for the making of softshell crabs.

Public comment on the proposal is being accepted by the LDWF. Written comments can be made to Peyton Cagle, Marine Fisheries Biologist DCL-B Marine Fisheries Section, 1213 N. Lakeshore Dr., Lake Charles, LA 70601 or by emailing peyton.cagle@la.gov before November 28.