The potential impact on the blue crab fishery and industry is one issue associated with the derelict crab trap removal program. Impacted crab fishermen will lose some fishing time and incur costs associated with trap relocation and some dealers near the closure areas may experience a slight reduction in supply of crabs. However, for several reasons, trap closures will probably not have a major significant impact on the blue crab fishery:

• The closure areas represent a relatively small portion of Louisiana’s coastal zone. Additionally, closure areas may include upland and fresh marsh areas that are not fished by crab fishermen.
• The winter closures occur at a time of year when crab catches are historically low.
• Some closure areas are primarily shallow marsh, and some fishermen traditionally move their traps in the winter from these habitats to deeper, open water bay habitats that are not included in the closure area.
• Remaining fishermen have the option of moving their traps in winter to adjacent areas that are not closed.