Catch More Crab - Prevent Crab Pot Loss

Did you know over 12,000 crab pots are lost every year in Puget Sound?

When lost,these pots continue to capture and kill crabs at alarming rates; a single lost crab pot can kill up to 50 crabs before it deteriorates, (a loss of up to 180,000 harvestable crabs each year). 

You can help the Skagit Marine Resources Committee and the Northwest Straits Foundation prevent crab fishery loss by properly rigging your pots.

Follow these 8 Tips and Tricks to Prevent Losing Your Crab Pots:

1. AVOID MARINE TRANSIT AND FERRY LANES 
2. CHECK TIDES AND CURRENTS: Avoid crabbing during strong tidal changes and currents. 
3. USE HIGH VISIBILITY BUOYS: To clearly mark your gear.
4. USE A WEIGHTED LINE: to sink below the surface and avoid being cut by passing boats. 
5. WEIGHT YOUR POTS: so they do not move in high currents or tidal changes. 
6. USE LONGER LINE: Use one-third more line than the water depth to allow for tide changes. 
7. SECURE LID AND ESCAPE PANELS WITH BIODEGRADABLE COTTON ESCAPE CORD: This allows crabs to escape from lost pots after the cord degrades.
8. STAY WITH YOUR POT: A watched pot will bring home more crab.

 

Checkout the Northwest Straits Foundation website for several great instructional videos and other resources to prevent lost crab pots at this link: Click Here.

 

In case you missed it, the Northwest Straits Foundation's 2021 Virtual Crabber Workshop recording is now available HERE

 

Fish & Wildlife's Recreational Crab Fishery in Puget Sound, Washington video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk6m AQVlqE