Abstract
Experiments were completed in SE Virginia during June–July 2014 and 2015 to examine the responses of blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) and diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) to commercial-style crab pots modified in visual and other ways that might attract and retain crabs while excluding terrapins as by-catch. In a seawater tank, far fewer crabs entered crab pots fitted with red plastic by-catch reduction devices (BRDs), relative to pots without BRDs. Crab retention times, however, were significantly longer in pots fitted with red BRDs. In a second experiment, fewer terrapins entered crab pots with funnels painted red relative to black. From a field pilot study, the legal crab catch from pots with red BRDs was similar to pots without BRDs, and terrapin by-catch was reduced. Relative to those treatments, fewer crabs and more terrapins were captured in pots with orange BRDs and blue BRDs, and in pots with a magnetic field directed into the funnel openings. Based on these results, a final field trial yielded comparable crab catch from 15 pots without BRDs and 15 pots fitted with red plastic BRDs. Of a by-catch of 68 terrapins, 58 were from pots without BRDs. The structure and color of BRDs can exclude most terrapins; because crab retention rates are high, the net effect of BRDs on crab catch is relatively minor, even though fewer crabs may enter pots fitted with BRDs.
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Acknowledgements
This research was supported by a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Grant 718361-712685 to VIMS, by the William & Mary Committee on Sustainability, and by the W&M Environmental Science and Policy Program. Thanks to S. Belfit for volunteer support and to the Yorktown Naval Weapons Station for logistical support and access to field sites. This study benefitted from discussions with J. Baldwin and A. Dominy and was permitted by VA DGIF and W&M IACUC.
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Communicated by Judy Grassle
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Corso, A.D., Huettenmoser, J.C., Trani, O.R. et al. Experiments with By-Catch Reduction Devices to Exclude Diamondback Terrapins and Retain Blue Crabs. Estuaries and Coasts 40, 1516–1522 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-017-0223-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-017-0223-4