2023 Blue Crab Recreational Effort and Recommendations Survey

Question Title

Please help us improve the blue crab fishery in South Carolina by taking this short survey.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is seeking input from recreational crabbers and the public regarding the blue crab fishery along our coast, and we value your input.

This survey is strictly confidential and all data collected will be used for research purposes only. The survey should take approximately five minutes to complete.

<strong>Please help us improve the blue crab fishery in South Carolina by taking this short survey. </strong><br><br>The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is seeking input from recreational crabbers and the public regarding the blue crab fishery along our coast, and we value your input.<br><br>This survey is strictly confidential and all data collected will be used for research purposes only. The survey should take approximately five minutes to complete.

Question Title

* 1. How many years have you been recreationally crabbing in South Carolina?

Less than one year

1-2 years

3-5 years

6-10 years

11-15 years

16-20 years

21+ years

Not applicable

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* 2. Have you purchased a commercial crabbing license to use over 2 pots for recreational purposes?

Yes

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* 3. If so, how many traps do you use for recreational purposes with your commercial license?

1-5

6-10

11-25

26-50

Does not apply

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* 4. Would you still purchase a commercial license if the recreational license allowed you to fish up to ten traps?

Yes

Does not apply

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* 5. In past year, July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023, approximately how many days did you attempt to catch blue crabs in South Carolina?

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* 6. In what coastal South Carolina counties did you go crabbing during the past year, July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023? Please check all that apply.

Horry County

Georgetown County

Charleston County

Colleton County

Beaufort County

Jasper County

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* 7. How would you consider the number of crabs per trap you caught in the past year?

Above average

Average

Below average

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* 8. How satisfied are you with the current blue crab fishery in South Carolina?

Very satisfied

Satisfied

Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied

Dissatisfied

Very dissatisfied

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* 9. How do you feel the blue crab population has changed over your crabbing career?

Greatly increased

Increased

Stayed the same

Decreased

Greatly decreased

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* 10. How supportive would you be to reduce the total number of commercial crabbing licenses sold?

1 - Not supportive at all

2- Somewhat unsupportive

3 - Neither for or against

4 - Somewhat supportive

5 - Very supportive

Additional comments/suggestions

Question Title

* 11. How supportive would you be to reduce the total number of commercial traps per harvester, including peeler traps?

1 - Not supportive at all

2- Somewhat unsupportive

3 - Neither for or against

4 - Somewhat supportive

5 - Very supportive

Additional comments/suggestions

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* 12. How supportive would you be of seasonal protection of female crabs when the population is low?

1 - Not supportive at all

2- Somewhat unsupportive

3 - Neither for or against

4 - Somewhat supportive

5 - Very supportive

Additional comments/suggestions

Question Title

* 13. How supportive would you be of a short (two weeks) "all traps out" period to allow for the removal of abandoned traps?

1 - Not supportive at all

2- Somewhat unsupportive

3 - Neither for or against

4 - Somewhat supportive

5 - Very supportive

Additional comments/suggestions

Question Title

* 14. If the state implemented a short (two weeks) 'all traps out' period to allow for the removal of abandoned traps, in which month(s) would you prefer the closure happen?

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

A Flexible Date

Not in Favor

Question Title

* 15. How supportive would you be of a recreational creel limit for blue crabs?

1 - Not supportive at all

2- Somewhat unsupportive

3 - Neither for or against

4 - Somewhat supportive

5 - Very supportive

Additional comments/suggestions

Question Title

* 16. How supportive would you be of a recreational license endorsement to allow for more than 2 recreational traps?

1 - Not supportive at all

2- Somewhat unsupportive

3 - Neither for or against

4 - Somewhat supportive

5 - Very supportive

Additional comments/suggestions

Question Title

* 17. How supportive would you be of closing certain areas to crabbing if the population crashes?

1 - Not supportive at all

2- Somewhat unsupportive

3 - Neither for or against

4 - Somewhat supportive

5 - Very supportive

Additional comments/suggestions

2023 Blue Crab Recreational Effort and Recommendations Survey

Question Title

Question Title

* 1. How many years have you been recreationally crabbing in South Carolina?

Question Title

* 2. Have you purchased a commercial crabbing license to use over 2 pots for recreational purposes?

Question Title

* 3. If so, how many traps do you use for recreational purposes with your commercial license?

Question Title

* 4. Would you still purchase a commercial license if the recreational license allowed you to fish up to ten traps?

Question Title

* 5. In past year, July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023, approximately how many days did you attempt to catch blue crabs in South Carolina?

Question Title

* 6. In what coastal South Carolina counties did you go crabbing during the past year, July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023? Please check all that apply.

Question Title

* 7. How would you consider the number of crabs per trap you caught in the past year?

Question Title

* 8. How satisfied are you with the current blue crab fishery in South Carolina?

Question Title

* 9. How do you feel the blue crab population has changed over your crabbing career?

Question Title

* 10. How supportive would you be to reduce the total number of commercial crabbing licenses sold?

Question Title

* 11. How supportive would you be to reduce the total number of commercial traps per harvester, including peeler traps?

Question Title

* 12. How supportive would you be of seasonal protection of female crabs when the population is low?

Question Title

* 13. How supportive would you be of a short (two weeks) "all traps out" period to allow for the removal of abandoned traps?

Question Title

* 14. If the state implemented a short (two weeks) 'all traps out' period to allow for the removal of abandoned traps, in which month(s) would you prefer the closure happen?

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* 15. How supportive would you be of a recreational creel limit for blue crabs?

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* 16. How supportive would you be of a recreational license endorsement to allow for more than 2 recreational traps?

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* 17. How supportive would you be of closing certain areas to crabbing if the population crashes?

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* 18. Do you have any suggestions for improving South Carolina’s management of blue crabs?