Effect of a terrapin excluder device on blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, trap catches

Authors:

Guillory, V., Prejean, P.

Year:

1998

Journal/Publisher Name:

Marine Fisheries Review

Volume (Issue #):

60/1

Page #s:

38-40

Contact information:

Louisiana Department of wildlife and Fisheries PO Box 189, Bourg, LA 70343

Summary:

Crab traps were fitted with a Turtle Excluder device to reduce the incidental capture of diamondback terrapins. No diamondback terrapins were caught during this study but the total catch rate of targeted blue crabs, compared to the standard traps, increased by 25.7% (14.5% sublegal size, 32.9% legal size). The difference in total catch rates and catch rates of legal sized blue crabs between the two traps were significantly different.

Field Studies

Location	Fishing Gear	Reduction Technique	Bycatch Species	Effect on Bycatch Species	Catch	Effect on Target Catch	Type	Link to edit content
Louisiana	Traps	Excluder devices	Terrapins	No diamondback terrapins were caught during the study	Blue crab	Increased the total catch rate by 25.7%, the catch rate of sublegal crabs by 14.5% and of legal crabs by 32.9%	Field study in the wild