Soft Shell

 

Ensuring the survival of crab returned to the water helps ensure the future of the fishery.

 

Below is an online google maps tool that displays the soft shell locations.
  • Click on the colored circles to view more about the soft shell occurance at that position.
  • Controls to zoom are located in bottom right conner of the map window
  • Click the    button to enlarge the google map window.


  • All fishers are asked to avoid the following locations (red circles on chart) by 1.5 Nautical miles: '; }else{ echo ''; } for ($c=0; $c < $num; $c++) { if($c == 0 || $c == 1 || $c == 2 || $c == 6){ if(empty($data[$c])) { $value = " "; }else{ $value = $data[$c]; } if ($row == 1) { echo ''; }else{ if($data[6] >= 20){ if($c == 1){ $deg = explode(".", $value); $min = ".".$deg[1]; $minstr = floatval($min)*60; $minstr = floor($minstr); // Round down decimals to an integer if($minstr % 2 == 1) $minstr++; // If odd, add one if($minstr == 60){ $minstr = 0; $deg[0]++; } $minstr = strval($minstr); while(strlen($minstr)<2){ $minstr = "0".$minstr; } $value = $deg[0]."°".$minstr." N"; } if($c == 2){ $deg = explode(".", $value); $min = ".".$deg[1]; $minstr = floatval($min)*60; $minstr = floor($minstr); // Round down decimals to an integer if($minstr % 2 == 1) $minstr++; // If odd, add one if($minstr == 60){ $minstr = 0; $deg[0]--; } $minstr = strval($minstr); while(strlen($minstr)<2){ $minstr = "0".$minstr; } $deg[0] = $deg[0]*-1; $value = $deg[0]."°".$minstr." W"; } echo ''; } } } } if ($row == 1) { echo ''; }else{ echo ''; } $row++; } echo ''; fclose($handle); } ?>
    '.$value.''.$value.'


     

    Best handling practices of all discard crab:
  • Return all discard crab to water as soon as possible.
  • Avoid rough handling of these crab.
  • Hold crab by the body, not by legs.
  • Leg damage is the largest cause of released crab dying.
  • Lower exposure time to air, sun and wind as much as possible.
  • Lower the drop height of the crab to the water as much as possible.

  •  

    This may be best accomplished by:
  • Sliding out the scupper or a discard chute
  • Placing all crab to be returned to water in a tote pan and gently dumping over the side of vessel.