Blue Crab Petition

Blue Crab Update May, 2010

Freeze impact on Florida's environment this year killed tons and tons of fish and created tons and tons of dead leaves, plus along with winter rains created waters filled with detritus. Detritus is the food supply for shrimp and blue crabs. This resulted in a large number of blue crabs in Tampa Bay. How long blue crab numbers will stay high in Tampa Bay is unknown, maybe this year and next year. If interested in catching blue crabs in bay by wading with a dip net and tub at night along shallows of Tampa Bay, this will be the year!

Gus 

October 4, 2009 

   WE the undersigned petition Florida Wildlife Commission to raise level of protection for Florida's marine species; Blue Crab, Calinectes sapidus, which means “beautiful swimmer.” At one time, a family event meant wading Tampa Bay waters with a dip net and tub, or fishing from shore with chicken necks anticipating possibility of dipping up live blue crabs. That’s no longer a reality...NO blue crabs! 

    FWC mission: Managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people. FWC manages other marine species for benefit of the people, why are blue crabs not managed for benefit of the people?

   Blue crab management appears flawed, because FWC overlooks areas of State where blue crabs are disappearing and judges State resource base by good example areas such as the Big Bend, Panhandle and St John’s River.

   FWC does not impose blue crab closed sanctuary areas, closed seasons, or no female harvest of “Sally” and “Sook” blue crabs. A Florida female blue crab can produce 18 broods in a 2-1/2 year life span. The average brood (sponge) contains about two million eggs, but may contain anywhere from 750,000 to 8 million eggs, depending on size of the crab. Only female blue crabs carrying a sponge of eggs are listed as no harvest blue crabs.

Names listed support better management of Florida’s blue crab, Calinectes

sapidus, for benefit of people...all people of Florida!

* Gus Muench, Gus’ Crabby Adventures,     * Betsy Muench

* Fred Jacobsen,                                          * Charlie Harkness

* Bob & Sandi Iocca,                                     * Christian Bellingrath

* Al Diecidue,                                                * Carole McDaniel

* Myra & Norb Treutel,                               * Betty & Alton Banks

* Hal Holton,                                                 * Grady Warmack

* Harold Salinas,                                           * Ann Thompson

* Bruce & Jayne Braswell,                            * Jon Batman

* Wilmer H. & Fonna Jayne Penny,               * Walter C. Ray lll

* Sandra L. Ray,                                            * Sanda Worsham

* Anthony & Sheila Puglisi,                            * Joan A. Neel

* Naomi Sharon Weaver,                              * Robert Addison

* Sandra Williams,                                        * Wayne Williams

* Diane & Richard Alvarez,                          * Linda Lewis

^ Jeff Lewis,                                                * Charlie Feldschau

* Catherine Collins,                                       * Dennis Collins

* Hunter Collins,                                           * Pattie Collins

* Jack Ratliff,                                              * Gwen Ratliff

* Alfred Rattliff, Sr.                                   * Marie White

* Millie Paedae,                                             * Nancy Morton

* Dee Cardis,                                                * Betty & Riley Brown

* Dr. Joseph Ciccarello,                               * Cynthia Ciccarello

* Michael Bachman                                       * Carol Long

* Dale Long                                                   * James W. Boggs

* Helen S. Boggs                                          * Greg & Janice Santa

* Sue Peters                                                * Bonnie H. Logan

* Joel Jackson                                            * Dottie Shaw

* Janet Lorenzo                                          * Tal Bray

* Michele Hutto Williers                             * Dan & Corinne Bowdish

* James Lee & Katriena Riddick                 * Edward & Frances Riddick

* Jina Lee Riddick                                       * John Dovidio

* Alene, Jack & Joel Lathbury                   * Tom & Nan Chapman

* Kyle & Erin Kennedy                                 * Mariella Smith

* Rheda Weeks                                           * Stu Marvin

* Neal Cardoso                                            * Carol Buege

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 FWC allows harvest on marine resources through a term called

"maximum substainable yields." For blue crabs, first we should

consider maximizing "full potential" of resource prior to harvesting at

"maximum substainable yield." When we allow harvest of female blue

crabs, provide no blue crab sanctuaries, allow harvest of Sally or

Sook crabs, we destroy the full potential of this resource. This is one

major reason blue crabs are disappearing.

Comments

* Gus, Please add my name to the list of supporters for your petition to the FWC to add further restrictions on the harvest of Florida ’s Blue Crabs.

* Gus, Add our names to the petition.

* Add my name to the petition.  When I was a kid I went crabbing in Oldmar

* Good Luck on your attempt to "Save the Blue Crabs".

* Hey, my Friend, you can put my name down, I'm with you 100% if you need

* Gus: I grew up (1940's) in the Palmetto Beach area along McKay Bay . As kids---we could walk along the sea wall and scoop large blue crabs. In the 1940's and 50's----we could wade along the 22nd St. Causeway and Courtney Campbell and scoop enough crabs to almost fill a #3 wash tub. As the years went by---we had to use bait (chicken necks) in order to catch a decent mess for cooking. I can remember catching crabs that were so big------they'd crawl back out of the net before you could dump them in the bucket. Although I've been away from the Tampa area for several years-----I'm sure those days have been long gone. Ten years ago---I was living in the D.C./Virginia area. I hunted high and low for crabs----finally bought a dozen (small) crabs for $38 per dozen. Can't imagine what they'd cost today. Gus, I don't know the issue as you do------but you have my support.

* Hi Gus, Read your e-mail with the articles and you can add my name to the petition.  I'm a native Floridian and hate what's been done and ongoing to all of our beautiful waterways, land, and beaches.  I lived out of state for 30 yrs. and coming back to FL it was so disappointing to see what had happened and continues to happen.  Good luck in your fight.

* Gus...You can add our names as Tampa Bay boaters!

* Gus It’s really good we have people like you to voice concerns where badly needed. Since I now live up in the center of the state, I was unaware of the TampaBay situation you describe, but can certainly relate. Please add my name to your petition.  Thanks. Commissioner / City of Altamonte Springs

* Hi Gus,  I agree with what you want to accomplish and you can put our names on your list.

* Gus, please add my name to your petition.  I wish I could help you but my health is not good.  Best of luck to you.  I've been concerned about our crab supply for many years.  Actually, I have forgotten about it the last few years.  Thanks for your work in keeping Tampa Bay as it should be.

* You can add me to your petition, but I don't think it will do any good.

* ADD OUR NAMES TO THE PETITION  AND   THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO !!!

* Gus, Put my name down on your petition.  I have many fond memories of crabbing on the causeway.  My Daddy was a bricklayer and we tied chicken necks to bricklayer's string and pulled crabs over crab nets.  I can also still remember the taste of smoked shrimp and mullet spread at the Mullet Inn on the causeway.  Of course that was when the causeway was lined with those spectacular Australian Pines. My Daddy later bought a place on the

use to be a wonderful place for oysters, scallops and blue crabs.  Too bad in this day of "green" interest we can't return the bay back into a place for healthy sea life.

* Yes, please add mine and Dale's name to your petition. Thanks, for caring and helping our environment!

* Add our names to your roster to protect our Blue Crabs in Tampa Bay

* Gus -- please add my name to petition -- As a kid, my family used to go crabbing on the causeway and get tubs of huge blue crabs -- no more –

* Hi, Gus--Please do add my name to the petition.  Growing up, we did some crabbing on the Causeway, had lots of fun and always enjoyed the wonderful dishes we prepared.  It is very sad to hear of such abuse.  I applaud your efforts and wish you success.

* Gus, please add my name to the petition. I'm a Sierra Clubber, a Ruskinite, and Little Manatee boater. Thanks for all you do.

* Gus, In response to your Petition request. I am a Tampa native, born and raised in Tampa.  At the Davis Causeway, which is now Courtney Campbell Causeway, in the 1960's & 70's, I and 2 of my friends, at night, in knee-deep water, could walk with a lantern and crab nets, and catch 2 to 3 dozen crabs within an hour.  Today no crabs are available in this area, all along the Causeway. I have lived on Palm River for 25+ years.  20 years ago I was able to catch crabs off my dock in Palm River.  Today there is no crabs in Palm River, I don't even see crabbers on Palm River anymore.  No crabs, they're gone! Thank you for your efforts Florida Wildlife Commission.

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