Title: The selectivity and efficiency of two different types of blue crab pot in Cuba

Two different crab pot types, Creole pot (CP) and Escape panel pot (EPP) were measured for selectivity and catch efficiency in the blue crab fisheries in Cuba. Though the difference between mean catch rates by pot was relatively small, they were statistically different. The Creole pot caught more crabs than the Escape panel pot. However, when the catch rate between pots for animals larger than 90 mm carapace width were compared, the Escape panel pot caught more crabs. The average catch weight (g) between pots were not statistically different. Both pots showed the same pattern in the catch rates by stations with catch rates in the western station lower than in the central and east stations. Both sexes were represented in the catches with high bias towards males in both pots. A higher percentage of females were caught in the Creole pot but the mean carapace width of both sexes were lower in the Creole pot. The Creole pot retains sizes from 50 mm carapace width, while the Escape panel pot begins to exploit the blue crab stock from 75 mm carapace width. The 50 % retention length (L50) in the Escape panel pot was 84.4 mm carapace width with selection range (SR) of 6.02 mm. The Escape panel pot has proven to be more efficient trap than Creole Pot in terms of maximizing the catch of legal size crabs and minimizing sublegal catch.