08-18-2003, 07:00 PM
[font "Arial"][size 2] The must-have fashion accessory for any well-dressed crab this year is a shiny yellow tag wired to the crustacean's back.
The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries is conducting a study on the migratory behavior of female blue crabs in Tar Heel waters to better understand this important fishery. Up to 7,500 mature female crabs will be tagged through November, 2003 in order to determine staging areas, migration routes, timing and habitat of the female blue crab spawning stock. Blue crabs are the state's most economically important fishery valued at $29.3 million in 2002.
Fishermen finding tagged crabs should remove the yellow tag and record the tag number, date and location of capture, gear used and whether or not the crab has a sponge or egg mass. Information should be mailed or called in to the division at: N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557, attention: Crab Tagging Study. 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632.
Fishermen will receive either a $5 reward or a hat for turning in information on any tagged crabs they find. Some crabs will have two tags on their shell - a recapture award for a double-tagged crab is $20. All fishermen returning tag information will be eligible for an annual drawing for a $100 and a $500 prize.
For more information on this study, contact Lynn Henry at the Division of Marine Fisheries by e-mail at [/size][/font][#0000ff][size 2][font "Arial"]"mailto:lynn.henry@ncmail.net"[/font][/size][/#0000ff][font "Arial"][size 2] or by calling 800-405-7774 or 252-796-1322.
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The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries is conducting a study on the migratory behavior of female blue crabs in Tar Heel waters to better understand this important fishery. Up to 7,500 mature female crabs will be tagged through November, 2003 in order to determine staging areas, migration routes, timing and habitat of the female blue crab spawning stock. Blue crabs are the state's most economically important fishery valued at $29.3 million in 2002.
Fishermen finding tagged crabs should remove the yellow tag and record the tag number, date and location of capture, gear used and whether or not the crab has a sponge or egg mass. Information should be mailed or called in to the division at: N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557, attention: Crab Tagging Study. 252-726-7021 or 800-682-2632.
Fishermen will receive either a $5 reward or a hat for turning in information on any tagged crabs they find. Some crabs will have two tags on their shell - a recapture award for a double-tagged crab is $20. All fishermen returning tag information will be eligible for an annual drawing for a $100 and a $500 prize.
For more information on this study, contact Lynn Henry at the Division of Marine Fisheries by e-mail at [/size][/font][#0000ff][size 2][font "Arial"]"mailto:lynn.henry@ncmail.net"[/font][/size][/#0000ff][font "Arial"][size 2] or by calling 800-405-7774 or 252-796-1322.
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