APPENDIX III APPENDIX III 
for their livelihood. Their mobility to other grounds is 
impaired by the type of gear that they use. Fishermen from 
different locations are not tolerant of others moving into 
their crabbing grounds. As of June 11, 1976, a small portion 
of the James River was opened to the taking of crabs under 
certain constraints. The Environmental Protection Agency and 
State agencies are monitoring the kepone situation for any 
potential effect on fish migrating from the James River into 
the Chesapeake Bay and other areas. 
The primary obstacle inhibiting growth in the Pacific 
coast crab fisheries is the lack of resource. The dungeness 
and king crab are under intensive use and are approaching 
their maximum sustainable yields. 
In the tanner crab fishery where resources are under- 
exploited, economics are inhibiting a more rapid development 
of the available resource. According to an NMFS official, 
the price received per pound for tanner crab is not high 
enough to draw fishermen away from more profitable fisheries. 
Unless the price for tanner crab increases or the other 
fisheries become less profitable, the tanner crab resource 
will probably continue its slow development. 
Harvesting capability 
On the Atlantic coast, laws governing the industry 
appear to be the only barrier to more efficient harvesting 
techniques. Some of the restrictions, such as size limits, 
are biologically sound and are important as conservation 
measures. However, some are based only on tradition while 
others were enacted to protect certain segments of the in- 
dustry and may be inhibiting the development of more efficient 
gear. Examples include prohibition of dredges in one State, 
and, in another State, the implementation of a winter daily 
quota limit for fishermen using dredges. Nevertheless, 
fishermen indicate that they are satisfied with the tradition- 
al ways of crab fishing which are ingrained among them. 
On the gulf coast, the use of trawls to take crabs is 
prohibited in Louisiana, the State which produces the great-— 
est amount of blue crabs in the gulf. A State official 
stated that the prohibition is due largely to conflicts which 
would exist in law enforcement should trawling be permitted. 
Also, politicians, who are ultimately responsible for changing 
the laws, do not understand the issue. It has been recommend- 
ed that trawling with large-mesh trawls should be permitted 
with seasonal and area restrictions. 
Although the taking of crabs with trawls is allowed in 
all other Gulf States, trawls are not used. Either economi- 
cally harvestable concentrations of crabs are not available 
75 
