DMR Signs Educate Public on Crab Trap Theft

From: DMR    Filed 10/27/08  GCN

Biloxi, Miss – Theft of crabs and crab traps is often a heavy monetary blow to Mississippi fishermen who make their living legally providing the public with delicious blue crabs. Theft can also be disheartening to the recreational crabber who looks forward to checking his or her crab traps after a long day at work or school. 

With this in mind, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (DMR) Shrimp and Crab Bureau has been actively notifying boaters that crab trap theft will not be tolerated and is placing specially made signs at boat ramps along the coast to remind the public that it is illegal to disturb another person’s crab trap. First offenders can be fined up to $500 for taking crab traps or pots or removing crabs from traps or pots not specifically licensed or permitted to them.

“So far, we have placed a total of 37 signs at various public and private boat launches throughout the three coastal counties of Mississippi” said DMR Fisheries Scientist Rick Burris. “We are hopeful this will help reduce the number of incidents we have.”

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is dedicated to enhancing, protecting and conserving marine interests of the state by managing all marine life, public trust wetlands, adjacent uplands and waterfront areas to provide for the optimal commercial, recreational, educational and economic uses of these resources consistent with environmental concerns and social changes. Visit the DMR online at dmr.ms.gov.