Status of the Florida soft crab industry

Abstract

Florida Sea Grant, having been involved in the developnent of the Florida soft crab fishery since 1978, decided that an evaluation of the status of this fishery was necessary to determine to what extent Sea Grant Extension activities would be needed to further its development. To that end, this author, in cooperation with Florida Sea Grant marine extension agents and specialists, conducted a survey of the 1983 soft crab producers. Out of 28 identified blue crab shedding operations known to be producing soft shell crabs in 1983, 22 (78.6%) cooperated in filling out a fishery questionnaire which included sections describing their shedding facility, harvest methods, product types, production and sales data, and production costs. The reminder of this paper will be the findings of that survey. (12pp.)