Crabbers and biologists debate over whether to restrict the number of pots one fisherman may have in the water. Some fish as many as 1,200. In places where crabs are plentiful, recreational and commercial boats have to weave through the thousands of small floats and bleach bottles tied to each pot to mark its place. The fact that so many are out there crabbing and not that much is coming in makes the point that crabs are scarce, Phillips said. We ought to be busting the charts.
Biologists are more optimistic.
Last year was a fluke and this year will get better as soon as the water stays warm, they say. Crabbers caught a record 67.1 million pounds five years ago. In the past 10 years, the harvest averaged 51 million pounds a year, higher than any other decade. The danger doesn't seem to exist. Wescott first started crabbing in 1949 and has seen lean and good years.