Emergency Blue Crab Regulations Adopted By AELR Committee
The proposed emergency blue crab regulations were adopted May 22 by the Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review Committee (AELR) and will be effective June 1st. The new regulations do not apply to the ocean and coastal bays.
To View a summary of the adopted regulatory proposals click here.
To View a summary of 2008 recreational bay crabbing regulations click here.
To read how the female crab bushel limits for commercial crabbers was calculated click here.
If you're interested in the background for the emergency regulation click here.
Click here to read additional information regarding adoption of the emergency regulations.
To view the Maryland DNR presentation given at the May 7, 2008 blue crab public hearing in Cambridge pertaining to the proposed emergency regulations click here.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Service recently presented the estimated 2007 blue crab harvest numbers from Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay. The estimated 2007 harvest is 21.8 million pounds, approximately 6 million pounds below last year’s harvest and slightly above Maryland’s lowest recorded harvest of 20.2 million pounds in 2000. To view entire press release go to www.dnr.state.md.us/dnrnews/pressrelease2008/020408.html.
The State of Maryland hosted an informational public meeting on January 31st regarding derelict crab pots in the bay. To view the derelict fishing gear fact sheet handed out during the meeting click here.
Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced on April 15 their commitment to work together to rebuild the Chesapeake Bay’s beleaguered blue crab population by directing state regulators and scientists to implement management strategies to revive the imperiled fishery. To view the entire joint statement go to www.dnr.state.md.us/dnrnews/pressrelease2008/041508d.html.
The Fisheries Services' Lynn Fegley recently wrote an article for the Maryland Watermen's Gazette, covering the topic of blue crab management , click here to read the article.
DNR Announces Estimated 2007 Blue Crab Harvest Numbers
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Service recently presented the estimated 2007 blue crab harvest numbers from Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay. The estimated 2007 harvest is 21.8 million pounds, approximately 6 million pounds below last year’s harvest and slightly above Maryland’s lowest recorded harvest of 20.2 million pounds in 2000.
To view entire press release go to www.dnr.state.md.us/dnrnews/pressrelease2008/020408.html.
As a well known symbol of the Chesapeake region the blue crab is important to Maryland both as a natural resource and tourism icon. In addition to supporting a major commercial fishery, the blue crab is a valuable recreational species as well. For all of these reasons MD DNR and partner organization VA Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) monitors the blue crab population in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries using surveys such as the Winter Dredge and the Summer Trawl surveys. With the information from these surveys crab stocks can be managed and protected for future generations.