The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries would like to remind commercial fishermen about the regulations of egg-bearing crabs.

Fishermen may not harvest any female crabs in the berry stage (when they are carrying eggs or young attached to the abdomen). Egg bearing crabs must be immediately returned to the water without injury to protect this next generation of crabs.

However, a legally licensed commercial fisherman may have, in the fisherman’s workbox only, an incidental take of not more than two percent total crabs in the berry stage.

Violating crab possession limits could result in up to a $950 fine, 120 days in jail and have crabs and equipment seized.