Just A Thought on Mature Crabs and Spawning Stock

[Southern Grin]

I was wondering : if peeler pots were slowly eliminated from the commercial crab fishery, ( which mostly happens in the Chesapeake Bay crab nursery ground known as Tangier Sound ), wouldn't the population of mature crabs increase which in turn would also create an increase in the actual spawning stock ? What do you think ?

[crabby and son]

Why think.......ain't gonna happen...........Gary

[Southern Grin]

I remember in the early 90's, the peeler pots exploded in Tangier Sound. Ever since then the population has been inconsistent. I think that if enough people get involved, there could be a significant change ! I am not talking about a overall ban, just a slow phase out so the guys could adapt back to hard crabbing.

[Southern Grin]

And keep peelers as a by-catch and not a directed fishery.

[rob sasko]

i don't think it will make a big difference because the crab scrapers are out in full force around late april early may.

[rob sasko]

also, there is a hugh export market for MD soft crabs.

[samie]

They would never stop the taking of peelers. I was at a crab meeting about a year ago and someone brought up the subject of not keeping female peelers because it is when they mate. Not only did a commercial crabber speak up and say it is like taking money from his pocket because of soft crabs ( He said he gets as much sometimes from a dozen softies than a buschel of hard) But a DNR and a EDF person said the soft crab industry would not survive on males alone. Thus taking money out of the pocket of the state. I was always led to believe that a female crab mates once when she is inmature with a triangle apron. Once reaching size to bear eggs she slufts, mates and travels to the ocean to release the eggs. Her apron changes to a round shape and she is done with mating. This is something science has yet to prove or not. Just my two cents. Leave the female to mate and lets all be succesful together.