UK: The Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation (SSMO) announces velvet crab management measures

Published Jun 23, 2023

Tridge summary

The Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation (SSMO) has announced a reduced closed season for velvet crab fishing this year, due to changes in breeding and moulting patterns and economic pressures. The season will be divided into two parts, four weeks each for boats on the west and east sides of Shetland. The SSMO will increase monitoring during this period and is analyzing data from a red bag scheme to monitor velvet crabs' changing habits. A velvet tagging project is also proposed to monitor movement and moulting cycles.

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Original content

SSMO announces velvet crab management measures The Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation (SSMO) has announced that this year’s velvet crab closed season will take place in reduced form this summer. It will run for four weeks for boats classed as operating on the west side of Shetland followed by four weeks for those on the east. The closure dates are: West: Monday 10th July to Monday 7th August East: Monday 7th August to Monday 4th September For the avoidance of doubt, the catching of velvets can resume on the Monday 7th August for west boats and Monday 4th September for east boats. Fishermen should inform the SSMO as soon as possible if they have switched to fishing on a different side of Shetland this year. There has been a considerable delay in fixing the closure arrangements this year due to exceptional circumstances. These included the need to respond to unprecedented changes in velvet breeding and moulting patterns. The SSMO also needed to recognise the increased ...

Source: Fish Focus