Blue crab harvesting will stop next week for bay clean-up

The harvest of blue crabs will stop for ten days beginning next week to give officials time to remove derelict traps from the bay.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a rule this year that establishes six regional closed seasons to the harvest of blue crabs with traps. The closed season that includes all Franklin County waters to the Florida/Alabama line will be from January the 5th through the 14th.

The closure extends from the shoreline out to 3 nautical miles and includes all inland waters in the regions. The closures will apply only to standard blue crab traps. The harvest of blue crabs by other gear, such as dip nets and fold-up traps, will still be permitted during the closures. The closures will also apply to recreational harvesters who use standard blue crab traps unless the traps are attached to private property.

Lost and abandoned blue crab traps have been cited as a problem in the blue crab fishery because they sometimes interfere with other fishing activities and can continue to trap crabs and fish when they are not maintained. They can also be unsightly in the marine environment, damage sensitive habitats and pose navigational hazards to boaters.


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