FWC announces blue crab trap area closure

The harvest of blue crabs from traps will not be allowed from July 10 through July 19 in the waters of Broward through Pasco counties. This closure will give authorized groups the opportunity to identify and retrieve lost and abandoned blue crab traps from the coastal and inland waters in this area.

All commercial and recreational blue crab traps within three nautical miles of shore and in the inland waters of Broward County, south to and around the tip of Florida and north up the Gulf coast through Pasco County must be removed during the 10-day closed period.

The harvest of blue crabs by other gear, such as dip nets and fold-up traps, will still be permitted during the 10-day closure. The closure also applies to recreational harvesters who use standard blue crab traps, unless the traps are attached to private property.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has cited lost and abandoned blue crab traps as a problem in the blue crab fishery, because they can continue to trap crabs and fish when they are not checked and maintained. They can also be unsightly in the marine environment, damage sensitive habitats and pose navigational hazards to boaters on the water.

Lost and abandoned traps cannot easily be distinguished from legal traps, so they often remain in the water indefinitely. The 10-day closure will enable FWC-authorized groups to collect lost and abandoned blue crab traps that remain in the water during the closed period.

Other regional 10-day blue crab trap closures throughout Florida will occur at certain times during the year. For more information regarding the FWC’s trap retrieval program, blue crab trap closure dates, regulations and how you can participate in cleanup events, go online to MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater.” You can also contact FWC’s trap-retrieval coordinator, Kyle Miller, at 850-487-0554.

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