commercial harvest of blue crab regulations for 2018-2019 season · 2018-02-20 · commercial...

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Commercial Harvest of Blue Crab

REGULATIONS for 2018-2019 Season

G EA R C HA NG E R e m in d e r Changes to Escape Rings Effective November 15, 2017 • Each crab trap must have a minimum of 3 escape rings • At least 2 must be in the upper chamber • 2 3/8th inches in diameter

NEW CHANGES Harvest of Female Blue Crabs Prohibited March 1 - April 30 A commercial fisherman may possess an incidental take of female crabs in an amount not to exceed two percent of the total number of crabs that is possessed.*

*The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission removed the 30-day February through March crab trap closure period for the years 2018 and 2019.

C u rr e n t R EG U L AT IO NS to R EM A IN in e ff e c t Ban on Harvest of Immature Female Blue Crabs • No commercial harvest of immature

females, regardless of size • 2% allowance in crates; work or cull box

exempt • Exemption for softshell crab; must be in peeler/buster box