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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3/14/25  9:02 pm
Commenter: Richard J Murray IV

Against turtle excluder device in crab pots
 

I am against placing turtle excluders in crab pots. They are completely unnecessary. There is little if any scientific data proving that there is an issue with turtles being killed or captured as by catch in commercial crab pots. Commercial fishermen are subjected to many regulations that increase the cost of doing business. This would further increase the cost of doing business with increased supply costs for the excluders as well as increased labor costs to install them. This puts an economic hardship on everyone in an already economically strained industry. All the while with little, to no evidence if they work or if they are necessary. The overwhelming majority of commercial crab pots are set in areas that turtles do not inhabit, therefore making this additional regulation pointless as far as the purpose of having them installed to save turtles.

CommentID: 233067