Public has chance to weigh in on higher crab-fishing penalty

Public has chance to weigh in on higher crab-fishing penalty

The News Tribune
Published: August 7th, 2008 01:00 AM
The public will have the chance to comment on a proposed penalty for failing to report crab caught in the Puget Sound recreational fishery when the state Fish and Wildlife Commission meets Friday and Saturday in Lynnwood. In addition, the commission is expected to take action on upcoming migratory waterfowl hunting seasons, according to a commission news release.


The crab proposal calls for a $10 penalty for Puget Sound sport crab fishers who fail to comply with state requirements.
Puget Sound sport crabbers must record their Dungeness crab catch on two catch record cards – one for the summer season and one for the fall/winter season. People can report that information on the Internet or by mailing in their catch cards.


Under the proposal, a crabber who fails to report would be assessed $10 before a vendor would issue a new record card for a subsequent Puget Sound crab season, the release said.
The discussion is scheduled for Friday afternoon. The commission is scheduled to vote on the proposal during its September meeting in Olympia.