Crabbing Season Opens Today

Beachwatchers from the San Juan's were recently given an inservice by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.  Topics covered included recreational dungeness crab rules, ways to prevent crabs from being wasted and overfished and statistics on the rate of lost crab pots.  Beachwatchers were asked to educate the public about the use of  "rot cord" (which breaks down in the water and releases crabs when pots are lost), identification of male and female crabs (only males can be taken) and the legal keep size of 6 1/4 inches. The group was provided educational packages containing a pamplet, "Crabbing in Puget Sound" which  covers this information in more detail, a caliper to measure crabs and a sample of rot cord to distribute to the public.  The project is being well received by recreational crabbers.