An interesting study about the crab losses due to derelict crab gear.

http://www.nwstraits.org/uploadBibliography/NWS-2010_0099_CrabMortality_013110.pdf

Excellent link to abandoned crab traps study.

Unfortunately the crab trap removal somewhat mirrors ghost nets in mindset.
At a meeting with 2 WDFW staff members presiding over an unrelated topic, I asked why the nets aren’t identified so responsibility can be taken?
The answer was "we aren’t going there. It’s not going to happen. No way no how".

Why? Because. Why? Because. Why? Because. Why can’t the nets be identified so responsibility can be taken? Answer was “the commercials already have enough expense and they can’t afford anymore”.

On the way home from the meeting, I thought to myself, if I get into a traffic accident that is my fault, I hope it is with this staff member.
I’d say yes that’s my car. Yes my car did damage to your car. But sorry, you need to go out and find funding to fix your own frikken car.

So you don't think that recreational crabbers should have to pay for commercial derelict pot removal?
If not then why?

Then why on earth would you support CCA's plan to convert CR commercial gillnetters to a less lethal harvest method?
The plan calls for sports to pay for this transition.

So you agree that the idea of catching more hatchery fish by commercials, in order to maintain the present hatchery plant levels, and have sports fund the transition of commercials to more selective method is absurd?

it`s beyond absurd, i will never support a group that supports this kind of trash.

explain how this is going to be a change for the better.

So just the part where sports pay to transition is objectionable, the other factors are good?
I agree that sports pay way more than their fare share of the resources, and should never be taxed with funding any commercial fishery.

One recommendation as a part of the great SAO crab performance audit is to put enough weight in a pot to keep it from drifting off.

But if we put enough weight in the pot to MAYBE keep it from migrating and the wind/tide overcome our best estimates the pot will probably pull the floats under. That may not be a problem for some folks in low tidal flow areas but it sure is where I crab. Last season two drifting pots were dragged into shallow water and the owner's were called; edging on the illegal but done in good faith.

(That brings up a point that each pot should also have a current telephone number.)

If we put in enough weight to try and keep it in place but have enough flotation to allow for a migrated pot to be recovered by someone "downstream" we may not have a derelict pot and may even get the pot back but it may come with a ticket if we failed to call and report the pot lost. Did I mention that the reason to go to the beach is to get away from the phone???

Ah, the dilemma. More weight? More floats? More line? Bigger skiff?

Geez, this is crabbing..... its supposed to be simple!

By the way, if you are into sport crab value this report cites a study which attributed a $43/day value for shellfish activity and a WDFW report that the average daily crab catch is 2.35 kg or 5.17 pounds. At an average per crab weight of 1.75 pounds (it does vary catch area) that works out to a value of $8.32/pound or $14.58 per crab. This is just one of several versions of valuing the sport catch.

LarryB

After reading all this stuff, I admit, I am a pissed off sports crab fisherman. Anyway, for what it worth, I'll vote quicker rotting escape cords.

Excuse my Crabbing Ignorance (haven't been crabbing in 4 years now), but do Commercial (Tribal & Non-Tribal) have the same "Requirements?" If not, why not. Has the Shellfish Program Manager asked for and recieve an "Emphasis LEO Patrol" for the Commercial Crabbers, what was the "Scofflaw Ratio????" Lot of equalizing questions are running through COF Mind.