2024 Atlantic Blue Crab Trap/Pot Fishery - MMPA List of Fisheries

U.S. fisheries are classified under the Marine Mammal Protection Act according to the level of interactions that result in incidental mortality or serious injury of marine mammals.

Current Classification on the List of Fisheries

Category	II
Estimated Number of Participants	6,679
Target Species	Blue crab
Applicable Take Reduction Plans	Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP); Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Plan (BDTRP)
Observer Coverage	There has not been observer coverage in this fishery.
Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured	Bottlenose dolphin, Biscayne Bay estuarine Bottlenose dolphin, Central FL coastal Bottlenose dolphin, Central GA estuarine system¹ Bottlenose dolphin, Charleston estuarine system¹ Bottlenose dolphin, Indian River Lagoon estuarine system Bottlenose dolphin, Jacksonville estuarine system Bottlenose dolphin, Northern FL coastal¹ Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GA/Southern SC estuarine system Bottlenose dolphin, Northern migratory coastal Bottlenose dolphin, Northern NC estuarine system¹ Bottlenose dolphin, Northern SC estuarine system Bottlenose dolphin, SC/GA coastal Bottlenose dolphin, Southern GA estuarine system Bottlenose dolphin, Southern migratory coastal¹ Bottlenose dolphin, Southern NC estuarine system West Indian manatee, FL

^ Number of participants estimates are based on state and federal fisheries permit data. The estimated number of participants is expressed in terms of the number of active participants in the fishery, when possible. If this information is not available, the estimated number of vessels or persons licensed for a particular fishery is provided. If no recent information is available on the number of participants, then the number from the most recent LOF is used. NOAA Fisheries acknowledges that, in some cases, these estimations may be inflating actual effort.

*Observer coverage levels include the latest information reported in the most current final Stock Assessment Report (SAR).

¹ Indicates the stock or species is driving the classification of the fishery.

Basis for Current Classification

The total annual mortality and serious injury of several bottlenose dolphin stocks in this fishery is greater than 1% and less than 50% of the stocks’ Potential Biological Removal (PBR) level.

Distribution

The fishery occurs year-round from the south shore of Long Island at 72° 30'W. long. in the Atlantic and east of the fishery management demarcation line between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico (50 CFR 600.105), including state waters.

Gear Description

This fishery uses pots baited with fish or poultry typically set in rows in shallow water. The pot position is marked by a buoy line attached to a surface buoy.

Management

The fishery is managed under state Fishery Management Plans, and is subject to ALWTRP implementing regulations. It is also an affected fishery under the BDTRP.

Historical Information

Original Category (Year added to the LOF)	II (2001)
Original Number of Participants	>16,000
Basis for Original Classification	This fishery was created by splitting the Category III "Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico blue crab trap/pot fishery" into the Category II “Atlantic blue crab trap/pot fishery” and the Category III "Gulf of Mexico blue crab trap/pot fishery.” The Atlantic portion of the fishery was elevated to Category II based on bottlenose dolphin stranding data in the Southeast Atlantic. Specifically, from 1994-1998, 22 bottlenose dolphin carcasses were recovered with evidence of possible interaction with trap/pot gear, and another two bottlenose dolphins were reported to be released alive. This stranding data indicated that the average annual mortality and serious injury was 4.4 dolphins/year as a minimum estimate, or 17.6% of PBR (PBR=25). The analyzed level of interaction was considered a minimum because it was based solely on stranding data. At the time of the 2001 LOF, Virginia stranding data had not yet been analyzed but was thought to likely include more cases of interactions. There is no observer coverage for this fishery; therefore, observer data was unavailable.
Past Names	"Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico blue crab trap/pot fishery" from 1991-2001.
Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list)	N/A

Timeline of Changes

2024	Added bottlenose dolphin, Biscayne Bay estuarine.
2020	Added a superscript “1” after bottlenose dolphin (Central GA estuarine system) indicating that this stock is driving the classification of this fishery. Estimated number of participants updated from 7,714 to 6,679.
2019	Added a superscript “1” after bottlenose dolphin (Southern migratory coastal) indicating that this stock is driving the classification of this fishery.
2017	Estimated number of participants updated from 8,557 to 7,714.
2013	Estimated number of participants updated from 10,008 to 8,557.
2008	Combined bottlenose dolphin (GA coastal stock) and bottlenose dolphin (SC coastal stock) on the list of species/stocks killed/injured and renamed the stock as “bottlenose dolphin (SC/GA coastal stock)” to reflect the stock name in the 2010 SAR. Estimated number of participants updated from 6,479 to 10,008.
2011	Updated the stock name for bottlenose dolphins killed/injured in this fishery, based on the revised stock structure presented in the final 2008 and 2009 SARs. Replaced bottlenose dolphin (WNA coastal) with the following stocks: bottlenose dolphin (Northern NC estuarine system); bottlenose dolphin (Southern NC estuarine system); bottlenose dolphin (Charleston estuarine system); bottlenose dolphin (Northern GA/Southern SC estuarine system); bottlenose dolphin (Southern GA estuarine system); bottlenose dolphin (Jacksonville estuarine system); bottlenose dolphin (Indian River Lagoon estuarine system); bottlenose dolphin (Northern Migratory coastal); bottlenose dolphin (Southern Migratory coastal); bottlenose dolphin (Northern FL coastal); bottlenose dolphin (Central FL coastal); bottlenose dolphin (SC coastal); bottlenose dolphin (GA coastal). Retained a superscript “1” after each of these stocks because the 2010 LOF includes a superscript “1” following bottlenose dolphin (WNA coastal) and NMFS cannot yet differentiate to which stock a killed/injured animal belongs. Until NMFS is able to do so, each stock of bottlenose dolphin is considered to be driving the classification of the fishery. Estimated number of participants updated from >16,000 to 6,479.
2008	Updated the fishery description to reflect that it is now subject to ALWTRP implementing regulations under an October 5, 2007, rulemaking (72 FR 57104; October 5, 2007).
2006	Added a superscript “1” after bottlenose dolphin (WNA coastal) and West Indian manatee (FL), indicating that these stocks were driving the categorization of this fishery.

Last updated by Office of Protected Resources on 04/16/2025

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