Hello-
I am a researcher with Nicholls State University. We are conducting a research project to better understand blue crab movements throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Over the next two years, we will be tagging 30,000 mature female blue crabs throughout the Gulf. I am attaching a picture of a tagged crab, along with a flyer we are distributing to maximize awareness of the project.
We are reaching out to the commercial and recreational fishing community to ask for your help. If you catch a tagged crab, please call us and report it. We are offering a reward for each tagged crab reported, and are asking for the following information:
-Tag number
-Date caught
-Location caught (GPS if possible, if not a descriptive location with the nearest landmark is fine)
-Was the crab carrying an egg mass/sponge? If so, what color was the egg mass (orange, brown, or black)?
Tagged crabs can be reported at 1-800-624-2857 or
www.crabtags.org.
If you have any questions about the project, please do not hesitate to ask. We are also setting up a website with information about the project:
http://www.nicholls.edu/bluecrabs. It is still under construction but should have more information soon.