Tagged blue crabs

[NichollsCrabTags]

Hello-

I am a researcher with Nicholls State University. We are conducting a research project to better understand blue crab movements throughout coastal Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico. As part of this project, we are tagging mature female blue crabs throughout the Gulf. I am attaching a picture of a tagged crab. We are reaching out to the commercial and recreational fishing community to ask for your help. If you catch a tagged crab, please call us and report it. We are offering a reward for each tagged crab reported, and are asking for the following information:
-Tag number
-Date caught
-Location caught (GPS if possible, if not a descriptive location is fine)
-Was the crab carrying an egg mass/sponge? If so, what color was the egg mass (orange, brown, or black)?

Tagged crabs can be reported at 1-800-624-2857 or www.crabtags.org.

We are not trying to close the fishery or impose any additional regulations. We are simply trying to learn more about this valuable species.

If you have any questions about the project, please do not hesitate to ask. We are also setting up a website with information about the project: http://www.nicholls.edu/bluecrabs.