The Tribune

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

THE Cape Eleuthera Institute at The Island School in collaboration with local fishers have discovered ground-breaking research on stone crab fishery in The Bahamas.

The researchers discovered an alternative method for claw removal that increases the chances of stone crab survival by nearly 30 percent once their claw is harvested and the crab released.

The new method takes advantage of a self-defense strategy that crabs, and some other animals use to avoid predators.

“By simply sticking a sharp object into the soft joint mid-way down the claw, a fisher can make the crab drop its claw which avoids damage to the joint that can occur when cracking or clipping the claw off,” The Cape Eleuthera Institute said in a recent statement.

“When a crab drops its claw, survival increases by 29 percent on average, meaning more crabs survive to regrow their claws and reproduce, thus supporting the population and the fishery into the future.”

Local fishers developed the slogan “don’t clip the biter, stick it” to communicate the alternate claw removal technique.

The stone crab season opens from October 16 to May 31 each year, and this season presents an exciting opportunity to continue this work.

In a press release, the Cape Eleuthera Institute said the National Fisheries Association and stone crab fishers that have worked on the project have been incredibly supportive of this collaborative effort to investigate a new idea.

“The opening of the fishing season presents a timely opportunity to continue to test this new method and learn more about the stone crab fishery. However, while the increase in survival rates is promising, this technique needs to be further tested by fishers to gather their input and feedback,” the statement said.

Despite the discovery of the ground-breaking research, the Cape Eleuthera Institute said they do not recommend this method be regulated or mandated in the commercial fishery at this time.