Fishing ban aims to protect crabs

The spider crab is more vulnerable when it sheds it shell

People in Jersey are being warned not to catch spider crabs from September.

The ban lasts for six weeks and gives the crabs an opportunity to grow.

The spider crab closed season begins at midnight on 31 August and lasts until 15 October.

The ban is introduced every year to protect the creatures after they have cast off their shells.

It means people cannot fish for the crabs or keep them live in containers.

The ban will be enforced by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in conjunction with the French government.

The creatures can have a span of 25 centimetres (10 inches) and a weight of 4.5 kilograms.