A REVIEW AND EVALUATION OF ESCAPE RINGS IN BLUE-CRAB TRAPS

Legislative and/or agency mandates for escape rings in blue crab (Call inectes sapidus) traps are increasing. Escape ring research and manage ment regulations are reviewed. In general, escape rings in hard crab t raps usually reduce sublegal catch without any accompanying loss in le gal catch. Advantages and disadvantages of escape rings are listed and discussed. Percentage escapements by size group and sex through escap e rings of various sizes were determined. Based on the criteria of max imizing sublegal crab escapement without an unacceptable loss of legal blue crabs, three 6.03-cm escape rings located on the vertical, outsi de walls of the upper chamber are recommended. An exemption is recomme nded for peeler traps to mitigate loss of peeler crabs to soft-shell c rab shedders.