THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 24, 1995 TAG: 9505240494
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
TYPE: Local Briefs
DATELINE: ROANOKE ISLAND LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
Although a two-year moratorium on commercial fishing licenses prohibits additional people from catching crabs, anyone can get into the softshell industry by shedding peeler crabs themselves.
With a $50 dealer's license, people can buy peelers from commercial watermen. The crabs can be shed in closed recirculating systems or in troughs fed by well water.
Softshell crabs bring between $1 and $2 each, depending on demand. Hard crabs fetch only pennies each.
``You can still build your own facility and shed soft crabs,'' said N.C. Sea Grant specialist Wayne Wescott of Manteo who helps people set up and operate shedding systems.
``Crabbers, shedders, box makers, pot makers and related supply dealers are all making more money. More people are enjoying the fruits of their labor at the dinner table. And crab populations don't seem threatened,'' Wescott said.
North Carolina's peeler crab harvest exceeds what local shedding operations can handle, Wescott said. So, much of the state's catch is funneled to out-of-state buyers.
More than 55 million pounds of hard crabs were landed in the Tar Heel State last year - the biggest harvest yet.
For more information, or to get help starting a softshell crab shedding operation, call Wescott at (919) 473-3937. by CNB