Recreational Crab Trap
License Required
Regulations
BILOXI, Miss. The Commission on Marine Resources approved in its December meeting a change to the crabbing ordinance requiring recreational crab fishermen using traps to purchase a license. The change to Crabbing Ordinance No. 4.007(I) goes into effect May 1, 2001. The new license applies only to recreational crabbers fishing with traps. A recreational license for crabbing with drop nets or other non-trap gear is not required.
Beginning May 1, 2001, all resident and non-resident recreational
crab fishermen utilizing traps or pots must possess a valid recreational
crab trap license for a fee of five dollars ($5.00) as provided for in
Section 49-15-86 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, Annotated. This
license requirement shall only apply to individuals between the ages of
sixteen (16) and sixty-five (65). Any resident citizen who is blind,
paraplegic, or a multiple amputee, or who has been adjudged by the
Veterans Administration as having a total service-connected disability,
or has been adjudged totally disabled by the Social Security
Administration shall not be required to purchase or have in his
possession a recreational crab license while engaged in such activities.
Any person exempt under this section shall have in his possession while
crab trap fishing proof of age or disability.
All individuals utilizing traps or pots must possess a valid
recreational crab trap license. This license shall be valid in all
Mississippi waters south of Interstate 10.
The recreational crab trap license will provide valuable fishing data to be used in the management of Mississippi's blue crab resource, said DMR biologist, Traci Floyd. For that reason, this license was recommended by the Mississippi Blue Crab Task Force and is supported by Gulf Coast Research Laboratory crustacean biologists.
Other Gulf states requiring licenses for recreational crab trap fishing include: Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.
All licenses may be purchased at the Mississippi Department of Marine
Resources.
Recreational saltwater fishing licenses may be purchased at most
Wal-Mart, Kmart, sporting goods stores, bait shops and fishing camps.
For more information contact the Mississippi Department of Marine
Resources at (228) 374-5000.