Florida’s recreational and commercial stone crab seasons in state and federal waters closes today. This annual season closure is intended to increase the stone crab population and build resiliency in the fishery, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said. Commercially harvested stone crab claws may be possessed and sold during the closed season, but only if they have been placed in inventory prior to today by a licensed wholesale or retail dealer. Stone crab traps must be removed from the water within five days after the close of the stone crab season and stone crab claws may not be harvested from traps pulled after the season closes.