Crabbers to get fined in future for not returning catch cards

• Published September 09, 2008

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Got 10 bucks in your pocket? You’ll need it to buy a new crabbing license in 2010 — if you don’t turn in your 2009 crab report cards for the summer and fall seasons.

The state Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the new fine, but sport crabbers have a year to get used to the notion of turning in their record cards — or forking over more cash later on.

Fish and Wildlife biologists need the catch records to manage crabs in Puget Sound. Less than one-third of the 200,000 sport crabbers in Puget Sound reported their catch last year.

Crabbers can mail in their catch record card — or visit wdfw.wa.gov/ to file the information online.

Chester Allen, The Olympian