Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Marine Resources Commission
 
Board
Marine Resources Commission
 
chapter
Pertaining to Blue Crab Fishery [4 VAC 20 ‑ 270]
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3/31/25  10:43 pm
Commenter: Anonymous

No to turtle excluders
 

There are fewer full time crabbers than ever before. Which means less pots in the water commercially than ever before. The data should indicate fewer turtles as bycatch by commercial traps than ever before. . However most recreational crabbers are in the shallows, like waterfront property owners all over the bay. Very few commercial guys crab these areas because of low tides. And theft of traps or stolen crabs. Makes sense for Rec pots only because they usually live around the creeks. Most commercial guys are offshore far enough their boats can navigate. 

CommentID: 233526