harvest of mature female crabs

[queue3]

I wonder what some of those Merrylanders, who think that taking female crabs is is man's greatest atrocities against nature, would think of NCDMFs latest proclamation.
(and yet we have plenty of crabs...go figure)


PT-4-2009

PROCLAMATION

RE: CRAB POT ESCAPE RINGS

Dr. Louis B. Daniel III, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:00 Noon, Saturday, April 11, 2009, the following area will be exempt from the escape ring requirement in crab pots until 12:01 A.M., June 15, 2009.

AREA DESCRIPTION:

Newport River bounded by the Highway 70 Bridge in the south and the Highway 101 Bridge at Core Creek in the north. (No Map)

GENERAL INFORMATION:

A. This proclamation is issued under the authority of N.C.G.S. 113-170.4; 113-170.5; 113-182; 113-221.1; 143B-289.52 and N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3H .0103 and 3J .0301.

B. It is unlawful to violate provisions of any proclamation issued by the Fisheries Director under his delegated authority pursuant to N.C. Marine Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3H .0103.

C. This action is being taken to allow the harvest of mature female crabs. During this period of exemption, escape rings in crab pots may be obstructed to retain the crabs in the area described above.
D. Fisheries Rule 15A NCAC 3J .0301 (g) authorizes the Fisheries Director exempt crab pots from the escape ring requirement.




April 9, 2009
11:30 A.M.
PT-4-2009
/sab

[genecrabman]

We have closer Ocean access to cleaner water too...I think the water quality helps very much... We also have way more smaller (2-4 inch)crabs then Maryland does too..

[horsefly]

I also think they do this procalmation for that area every year, also so the crabber can pull in peelers via that method.....BUT I think to the end of April, you can't keep any females over 6 3/4" point to point