SUSTAINABILITY OF STONE CRAB CLAW HARVESTING FISHERIES

by Ashley Maximilien

Submitted : Fall 2018

Florida stone crab (Menippe mercenaria) fisheries are intended to be completely renewable. Fishermen, following certain guidelines, remove a claw and return the animal back in the water where it can regenerate the claw for later harvesting. However, data shows that claw removal stresses the crab and a portion of the harvested population die. Maintenance of these fisheries assumes that the crabs are not killed and return to the fisheries after regeneration. How sustainable is the population at present harvest levels if most of the harvested crabs die after they are returned to the water.

[ Back ]