La. Admin. Code tit. 76 § VII-346

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section VII-346 - Restriction of Mature and Immature Female Blue Crab Harvest

A. The recreational and commercial take of female blue crab from any of the waters of the state, whether private or public, or the possession of female blue crabs while on waters of the state is prohibited for a 35-day period beginning the second Monday of September for the year 2019. For the purposes of this Section, all female blue crab in possession of any persons on the water shall be deemed to have been taken from the waters of the state.

B. There shall be no commercial harvest of immature female blue crabs except:

1. when an immature female blue crab is in the premolt stage and is being held for processing as soft crabs; or

2. sold to a processor for the making of soft crabs.

C. Obvious signs such crabs are in premolt stage shall include they are no further from molting than having a white line on the back paddle fin, which is recognized by the crab industry as a premolt stage.

D. However, a legally licensed commercial crab fisherman may have in his/her possession an incidental take of immature female blue crabs, and/or mature female blue crabs during the prohibited months, in an amount not to exceed 2 percent of the total number of blue crabs in his/her possession.

1. To determine whether the total number of blue crabs in possession violates this Subsection, the enforcement agent shall take:

a. a random sample of 50 blue crabs from each crate; or

b. group of blue crabs equivalent to one crate.

2. If more than 2 percent of the blue crabs in that 50-crab random sample are immature female blue crabs, and/or mature female blue crabs during the prohibited months, the entire number of blue crabs in that crate or group of blue crabs equivalent to one crate shall be considered to be in violation.

E. Blue crabs in a work box, defined as a standard crab crate as used by a commercial crab fisherman aboard the vessel to sort or cull undersized crabs and/or immature female crabs from the harvest in order to obtain a legal catch, shall not be subject to the immature female restriction while held aboard the vessel and the fisherman is actively fishing.

1. Commercial crab fishermen shall be allowed to have in possession aboard the vessel either:

a. one work box, if not using a grader; or

b. two work boxes under the grader, if using a grader.

F. An immature female blue crab, also known as a "maiden" or "V-bottom" crab, can be identified as having a triangular shaped apron on her abdomen. A mature female blue crab can be identified as having a dome shaped apron on her abdomen.

G. Violation of any provision of this Section constitutes a class two violation.

La. Admin. Code tit. 76, § VII-346

Promulgated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Wildlife and Fisheries Commission LR 421962 (11/1/2016), Amended LR 44102 (1/1/2018), Amended LR 4579 (1/1/2019).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 56:6 (25)(a), R.S. 56:8, R.S. 56:32, R.S. 56:56 (A)(5), R.S. 56:320 (B)(3), R.S. 56:326 (A)(2), R.S. 56:332(E)(1) and R.S. 56:355.