Commercial blue crab traps have to be removed from water from January 5th through the 14th

            Fishing for blue crabs with traps will stop for 10 days beginning next week so that derelict traps can be removed from the bay.

The closure will begin on January the 5th and run through Wednesday, January the 14th.

The closure includes waters from Franklin County to the Florida/ Alabama border- it extends from the shoreline out to 9 nautical miles and includes all inland waters in the regions.

Waters of the Ochlockonee River and Bay are not included in the closure.

The closure only affects people who use standard blue crab traps. 

People can still harvest blue crabs with other gear including dip nets and fold-up traps.

Recreational fishermen can continue to use blue crab traps as long as the traps are attached to private property.

The state approved the closure as a way to remove abandoned blue crab traps from state waters.

Abandoned crab traps can continue to trap crabs and fish when they are not maintained. 

They can also damage sensitive habitats and pose navigational hazards to boaters.

The closure is one of three regional, 10-day blue crab trap closures that will occur in 2015.

Waters from Hernando through Wakulla counties, including all waters of the Ochlockonee River and Ochlockonee Bay, will close to traps in July. 

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