THROW THE FEMALES BACK! PERIOD! PART II

[Felinis]

For you throw 'em backers, I found this notice on the Flordia DNR crabbing requlations website:

Blue Crab Conservation Note

Female blue crabs may be harvested lawfully if they are not bearing eggs. Although it is lawful to keep non-egg bearing female blue crabs, it is a conservation practice to release them unharmed. There has been evidence that the females support the population of the species. Male crabs are capable of mating several times, but females are only able to mate once, after they mature. If a juvenile female is harvested, there will be no chance that she will be able to reproduce. Additionally, mature females may store sperm in their bodies for several months after mating in order to spawn at a later date. If a mature female is harvested, though she may not exhibit eggs, there is no certainty that she has spawned. Releasing female blue crabs enhances reproductive capacity and population renewal. 

[ChrisS]

I agree, but nature has it's way. Without human hands envolved, nature will take an equal amount of female crabs and an equal amount of male crabs, thus balancing out population. If we only take males in addition to nature, you may be taking too many and throw off the delicate balance. Which is why I'm not in total agreement about the removal of the female crab. Perhaps the correct solution is to shut it down all together?

I'm a genius!!!

[flounderpounder]

I'm a genius!!!

 

[ChrisS]

Dont hate me just cause Im wise....................Im extremely good looking as well.

[flounderpounder]

Dont hate me just cause Im wise....................Im extremely good looking as well.

I heard neither about you sorry

[ChrisS]

You dont know me, dont act like it.

nice try.
 

[flounderpounder]

You dont know me, dont act like it.

nice try.
 

never said I did....and im not   Dont flatter yourself

[ChrisS]

never said I did....and im not  Dont flatter yourself

fair enough

[rdbeard]

 Chris, what about the uneven balance issue. too many females make for an offset ratio that science is saying is unhealthy also. Do you think this will leed to bu. limits for male crabs, lets hope not. Another note would be that female crabs have been harvested in md and else where for decades and decades with little problems, the water here needs to be way cleaner to support any crab population in numbers.

[ChrisS]

Im not sure about bushel limits, I have taken up for DNR so much in the past, but Im almost confident now that they have no idea what they are doing.

This topic went back many years ago, and many (mainly me) saw this coming.