FLORIDA — A 10-day trap closure begins today for recreational and commercial blue crab traps in some of Florida’s west coast waters.
Blue crab traps may not be in state waters (shore to 3 nautical miles, including intracoastal waterways) waters of Wakulla through Hernando counties, including all waters of the Ochlockonee River and Bay from July 20-29.
The closures will give groups authorized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) the opportunity to identify and retrieve lost and abandoned blue crab traps from the water, the FWC said.
Closures may be reduced in duration if it is determined that the number of lost and abandoned traps in the region will take less time to remove.
According to the FWC, until trap season reopens, blue crabs may be harvested with other gear, such as dip nets and fold-up traps. Blue crab harvesters may also use standard blue crab traps during the closure if the traps are attached to a dock or other private property.
Lost and abandoned blue crab traps are a problem in the blue crab fishery because they can continue to trap crabs and fish when left in the water, the FWC said. They can also be unsightly in the marine environment, damage sensitive habitats, and pose navigational hazards to boaters on the water.
The closure is one of three regional, 10-day blue crab trap closures that have occurred in 2023 (see map). There are six regional closures total: three in even-numbered years on the east coast and three in odd-numbered years on the west coast.
For more information regarding the FWC’s trap-retrieval program, blue crab trap closure dates, regulations, and cleanup events go to MyFWC.com/Marine and click “Trap Retrieval/Debris Removal.”
For additional information, contact the FWC’s Division of Marine Fisheries at 850-487-0554.
