Cotton cord can save crabs in pots

Information packets contain cotton cord, diagrams showing how to use the cord to close pots, handy information on regulations and tools to measure crabs, plus a pen to mark your catch cards. - --
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Information packets contain cotton cord, diagrams showing how to use the cord to close pots, handy information on regulations and tools to measure crabs, plus a pen to mark your catch cards.

August 10, 2012 · Updated 2:44 PM 

Crabbing season runs Thursdays through Mondays, until Sept. 3, in waters surrounding Island County.

WSU Island County Beach Watchers encourages all crabbers to use cotton cord (rotten cotton) to secure doors of crab pots.

“Cotton cord will rot if pots are lost; derelict crab gear continues to catch, and kill, crabs for years,” said Barbara Lyon Bennett, program coordinator for WSU Beach Watchers in Island County.

“Here’s what crabbers can do to maintain an abundant, and delicious, supply of crab,” Bennett said, making several recommendations:

• Use rotten cotton cord (no plastic or chemical content cord) to secure doors of crab pots.

• Abide by all regulations.

• Only harvest crabs that are the minimum size.

• Do not harvest soft-shelled crabs.

• Mark pots and check water depth before dropping pots. Lost pots continue to catch and kill crabs for years.

• Report lost pots so they can be recovered by using a derelict gear reporting hotline, 1-855-542-3935.

Look for WSU Beach Watchers at boat ramps in Island County, they will have cotton cord and copies of regulations.

“No crabs should die wastefully, in derelict gear,” Bennett said.

 

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