Stone Crab Traps

Florida is the only place in the world with a large-scale commercial stone crab fishery. Stone crabs are one of Florida's most valuable seafoods, and the fishery is unique because of how it's harvested — but the traps used to catch them pose their own set of challenges when they go derelict. Stone crab traps are larger, heavier, and placed in deeper water than blue crab traps, which means when they're lost, they cause more damage per trap and are harder to find and remove. Understanding how stone crab traps work, what makes them different, and what happens when they go derelict is essential for every Water Sweeper who spends time on Florida's waters.