Blue Land Crabs: Report Illegal Harvesting

June 2, 2022

The rainy season is here and you may notice blue land crabs traveling on Old Cutler Road (usually between SW 184 Street to SW 188 Street).

Although it's currently open season to collect blue land crabs until June 30 (closed season is July 1-October 31), it's illegal to collect them during the following conditions, regardless that it is open season:

• A person cannot collect blue land crabs from the coastal Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay habitat restoration area owned by the South Florida Water Management District, which is posted on site
• A person cannot collect blue land crabs from any State or County maintained roadway or the right-of-way, which is the swale portion next to the road

Collecting blue land crabs can cause safety risks near roadways, create traffic obstructions, and destroys the habitat restoration area as harvesters trample protected plant life.

If you observe any of the following violations noted above, please call the non-emergency police number at 305-4-POLICE (305-476-5423) or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (MyFWC) at (305) 470-6863, Option 7.

You may also report the violation through their website.

Learn more.