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Recreational Crabber Outreach

Education & Outreach

Prevent Lost Pots and Catch More Crab!

Project Lead:  Darla Gay Smith

 

Project Partners:  Northwest Straits Foundation, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

 

Project Years (2008 - Present)

 

Project Overview:  There are an estimated 12,000 crab pots that are lost in Puget Sound every year. Lost crab pots continue to capture crab with no one to harvest them; resulting in over 180,000 Dungeness crab killed each year. That is a lot of wasted crab not making it to the dinner table.

As part of a collaborative regional effort to prevent lost crab pots, Skagit County Marine Resources Committee is helping to educate recreational crabbers about proper crabbing techniques through the distribution of the Northwest Straits Foundation's crabber outreach materials to local marinas and businesses that sell crabbing equipment and licenses before the opening of crabbing season each year. 

Skagit Marine Resources Committee crabber outreach display

Skagit Marine Resources Committee volunteer hands out "Catch More Crab" educational materials

Tips and Tricks to Catch more Crab!

Lost crab pots can often be prevented by following the checklist:

•  STAY WITH YOUR POT. A watched pot will bring home more crab.

•  AVOID MARINE TRANSIT AND FERRY LANES

•  CHECK TIDES AND CURRENTS. Avoid crabbing during strong   tidal changes and currents.

•  MAKE BUOYS MORE VISIBLE. Add a second buoy or stick and flag.

•  USE A WEIGHTED LINE to sink below the surface and avoid being cut by passing boats.

•  WEIGHT YOUR POT so they do not move in high currents or tidal changes

•  USE LONGER LINE. Use 1/3 more line than water depth to allow for changes in tides and currents

•  SECURE LID AND ESCAPE PANELS WITH BIODEGRADABLE COTTON ESCAPE CORD. This allows crabs to escape from lost pots after the cord degrades.

Recreational Crabber Outreach