Chesapeake Bay News

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service recently finalized the 2008 striped bass (rockfish) juvenile index, a measure of striped bass spawning success in Chesapeake Bay. The 2008 index is 3.2, below the long-term average of 11.7. During the survey DNR biologists collected 422 young-of-year (YOY) striped bass.

“Healthy striped bass populations are known for such highly variable spawning success,” said Eric Durell, DNR Fisheries Biologist. “This is just the third time in the past decade that striped bass reproduction in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay has been below average.”

Two of the most successful spawning years ever documented (2001 and 2003) also occurred during this period. Typically, several years of average reproduction are interspersed with occasional large and small year-classes.

Poor reproduction was also observed for other spring-spawning species such as white perch and American shad, leading biologists to suspect that large-scale environmental factors may be responsible. Heavy rains in early May resulted in decreased water temperatures on major striped bass spawning grounds.

“This spring water temperatures fell below levels known to be lethally cold to striped bass eggs and larvae,” explained Durell. “Survival of these sensitive life stages is a major determinant of spawning success.”

The underlying spanwing stock is still healhty and is watched closely by DNR biologists and monitored and in partnerhsip with other coastal states through the Atlantic State’s Marine Fisheries Commission.

DNR biologists have monitored the reproductive success of striped bass and other species in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay annually since 1954. Twenty-two sites were surveyed in the four major spawning systems: Choptank, Potomac, and Nanticoke Rivers, and the Upper Chesapeake Bay. Biologists visit each site monthly from July through September, collecting fish samples with two sweeps of a 100-foot beach seine. The index is calculated as the average catch of YOY fish per sample.

For more information visit www.dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/juvindex/index.html

Recognizing the challenges facing Maryland’s commercial fishing industry and the Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab population, earlier this year Governor Martin O’Malley worked with members of the General Assembly to secure $3 million in capital funding for projects to help mitigate watermen’s economic losses while also helping to restore the bay.

“Temporarily employing watermen for environmental restoration projects will help preserve Maryland’s fishing industry infrastructure while the Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab population is rebounding,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “Utlizing their existing skills and equipment, watermen will help us improve more than 1,000 acres of oyster bars.”

The Maryland Watermen’s Association and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources collaboratively developed specific work projects designed to utilize the industry’s existing equipment and skill set. In addition to oyster bar rehabilitation projects, land-based job opportunities are also available in order to accommodate individuals who do not own boats and dredge gear.

“This is a win-win situation, that helps both the watermen and the Chesapeake Bay,” said Larry Simms, Maryland Watermen’s Association. “It’s great that the Governor worked with us to help some of this restoration work get done utilizing watermen manpower.”

Every year, the Chesapeake Bay loses 2,600 acres of hard bottom oyster habitat. Watermen and women with boats and dredge equipment will remove silt and sediment from the tops of once historically healthy oyster bars in order to prepare them for a natural spat set and/or hatchery seed planting. Restoration of state-managed oyster bars (sanctuaries and reserves) will begin in mid-November.

“Rehabilitating oyster bars is a multi-step process. Without natural shell to use as substrate, using watermen to remove sediment build-up from these relic oyster reefs is a needed and cost effective alternative,” said Stephan Abel, Executive Director of the Oyster Recovery Partnership, the non-profit organization that will coordinate the watermen and women’s work.

Maryland watermen interested in participating in water and land-based job opportunities must apply by Friday, Oct. 31. Interested watermen and women may obtain an application online at http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/oyster/ or by calling 866-952-3305. Initial selection preference will be given to qualified Maryland watermen who actively crabbed in 2008.

Earlier this year, the O’Malley/Brown Administration coordinated historic action with Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine to rebuild the Chesapeake Bay’s beleaguered blue crab population by reducing the harvest of ecologically valuable female blue crabs by 34 percent in 2008. After receiving a request from Governors O’Malley and Kaine, the U.S. Department of Commerce granted a disaster declaration for Chesapeake Bay watermen and women who have suffered economic hardships due to the low and unstable blue crab abundance. Maryland’s Congressional delegation, under the leadership of Senator Barbara Mikulski, worked to support the State’s request for the disaster declaration and ensure that funding in the consolidated federal appropriations package that became law on September 30, 2008. Release of these funds is anticipated through the U.S. Department of Commerce.

For more information about Maryland’s efforts to rebuild the Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab population visit http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/dnrnews/infocus/blue_crab.asp.

On April 21, 2008, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposed new recreational and commercial harvest regulations to help rebuild the Chesapeake Bay blue crab population and fishery. The proposed regulations are designed to reduce female blue crab harvest by 34 percent in 2008.

“We must take action today to ensure that Maryland’s iconic blue crab and the economy it supports continue to be important parts of our culture for generations to come,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “The historic cooperation and coordination between Maryland, Virginia and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission has created an unparalleled opportunity to protect and restore our shared blue crab resource.  By working together, we will protect the most biologically important blue crabs from the beginning of their migration until they spawn in late spring and summer.”

The proposed emergency regulations for the 2008 Chesapeake Bay commercial blue crab fishery include an early closure to the season for harvesting female crabs and catch limits on female crabs earlier in the fall.  DNR’s preferred regulatory option being introduced as an emergency regulatory package today, would close commercial harvest of female crabs on October 23 and impose individualized catch limits effective September 1 based on a waterman’s recent annual average reported female blue crab harvest.  The proposed emergency regulations for the 2008 Chesapeake Bay recreational fishery prohibit any female blue crab harvest.

Protecting female blue crabs by reducing recreational and commercial harvests represents the best opportunity for the quickest rebound,” said DNR Secretary John R. Griffin.  “We will continue to work with scientists, recreational crabbers, the commercial crab industry, conservationists, and local businesses to ensure a sustainable future for our blue crabs so that the species can continue to fulfill its ecological role within the Bay while also supporting the local economies that rely upon it.”

The current abundance of adult or reproductive-age blue crabs is 120 million crabs, only slightly above the established minimum safe threshold of 86 million reproductive-age crabs, is 70 percent lower than 1990 levels and well below the conservation target of 200 million crabs.  Since 2001, Maryland and Virginia have shared a conservation goal of limiting annual blue crab harvest to no more than 46 percent of the species population.  Scientists estimate that more than 60 percent of the Bay’s adult crab population was harvested last year.  In Maryland, the 2007 commercial blue crab harvest of approximately 21.8 million pounds was one of the lowest recorded since 1945.

Governor O’Malley has committed to working closely with Maryland’s blue crab industry to develop mitigation options for the potential short term economic impacts resulting from the proposed regulations. The fiscal year 2009 capital budget for DNR included $3 million for habitat restoration projects, seafood processing industry grants and aquaculture development.

More than 500 individual comments have been submitted on blue crab management to the DNR since it initiated a public comment process in February. DNR’s public comment process thus far has included nine public and Sport and Tidal Fish Advisory Commissions meetings and an on-going online comment process. The proposed draft regulations will be reviewed by the Maryland General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive & Legislative Review. The proposed regulations will be published in the Maryland Register on May 23, 2008.

DNR will hold two public hearings on the regulatory proposal – one on May 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Governor’s Hall at Sailwinds Park in Cambridge, and one on June 4 at 7 p.m. at Calvary United Methodist Church in Annapolis.  Sign language interpreters and other appropriate accommodations for individuals will be provided upon request.  Public comments may also be submitted via mail to Sarah Widman, Fisheries Service, B-2, Tawes State Office Building, 580 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland 21401, by calling 410-260-8260, by faxing to 410-260-8278 or emailing to fisheriespubliccomment@dnr.state.md.us.

A variety of factors including over-fishing, poor water quality, loss of habitat such as submerged aquatic vegetation and oyster reefs, and changing climatic conditions have contributed to the decline of the Bay’s blue crab population.  Reducing female blue crab harvest is one of many actions taken by the O’Malley Administration to help restore the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.  Recent successes include strengthening the Critical Area Law to protect the most sensitive and significant shoreline habitats; securing an additional $25 million annually for Bay restoration efforts through the Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund; and implementing the BayStat Initiative to track progress and more effectively target our efforts.

Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine have announced 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.

Governor O’Malley and Governor Kaine made their historic announcement on the banks of the Potomac River moments after they were briefed by state scientists on the results of this year’s winter dredge survey, an annual look at the health of the blue crab stock and the most reliable predictor of the upcoming season’s crab harvest numbers.  Environmental scientists estimate that more than 60 percent of the Bay’s crab population was harvested in 2007.

“Governor Kaine and I have directed our regulatory agencies to take immediate steps to reduce the 2008 female harvest of blue crabs by 34 percent, and to develop long-term management strategies to ensure that the blue crab and the economy it supports continue to be an important part of our culture for generations to come,” said Governor O’Malley.

At a meeting with representatives of Maryland’s blue crab industry on Monday night, Governor O’Malley announced his intention to work closely with them to mitigate short term economic impacts resulting from this action. The Governor is also working with his cabinet to explore other economic relief opportunities for watermen and crab processors and their employees.

“Ten to fifteen years ago we were harvesting 33 to 35 million pounds of crabs per year here in Maryland. Landings now average 22 to 25 million pounds — a drop of nearly one-third. This lost economic opportunity is unacceptable,” said Governor O’Malley.

Scientists from both states have been concerned about the abundance of the shared resource for several years, as populations and harvest numbers have dropped.  Continued high fishing rates, particularly targeted to mature, egg-bearing female crabs during their fall migration, have delayed recovery and increased risk.

“Our review today of the 2007/2008 winter dredge survey results has confirmed that the Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab population is suffering near historic lows in spawning stock and unacceptably high fishing rates,” said the Governors in a joint statement (attached).

“Our most valuable commercial fishery is in danger of an economic collapse.  Maryland and Virginia must act now, and we must act together, to reduce harvest pressure on blue crabs immediately, and in so doing, protect both the biological and the economic sustainability of our shared resource.”

Maryland and Virginia have had a shared harvest target of 46 percent since 2001.  Scientists estimate that the combination of low abundance of crabs and continuing high fishing pressure led to more than 60 percent of the Bay’s crab population being harvested in 2007.

“We know that we cannot rebuild the blue crab population without an economic impact to those who rely on this fishery for their livelihoods,” said Governor O’Malley.  “However, Maryland is committed to working with our stakeholders to mitigate this impact.”

“The blue crab is a resilient species and through effective management and this critical partnership with Virginia, we will be able to rebuild our population quickly to ensure the future of this iconic resource and Maryland’s blue crab industry.”

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is currently working with stakeholders to review a range of management options to achieve a reduction of 34 percent in the harvest of female crabs.  This will lead to a projected increase of 20-26 million female crabs left in the bay to spawn and provide the best opportunity for a quick rebound of the population.  Proposed regulations are expected to be submitted later this month.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is currently working to develop a draft regulatory proposal for blue crabs. Based on the high volume of constructive input offered thus far, DNR is revising its initial draft regulatory proposal, which will be presented at a joint Sport Fish and Tidal Fish Advisory Commission Meeting on Thursday, April 10. Individuals will be offered an opportunity to comment at the Commissions’ meeting, which will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Calvary United Methodist Church, 301 Rowe Blvd. in Annapolis.

“We are encouraged that so many people have expressed their concerns about restoring a healthy blue crab population in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries,” said Frank Dawson, DNR Assistant Secretary for Aquatic Resources. “We also recognize the great economic and social values that blue crabs provide to local businesses and recreational crabbers.”

DNR began scoping preliminary regulatory ideas in February 2008 through a series of seven public and Advisory Commission meetings and an on-going online comment process. The revised draft regulatory concepts reflect substantive changes based on the more than 600 comments received from recreational and commercial crabbers, local businesses, conservation organizations and concerned citizens. Continued coordination with Virginia provided the opportunity to manage a multi-jurisdiction natural resource cooperatively to meet a conservation goal based on the blue crab winter dredge survey results.

Individuals may view and comment on the revised draft regulatory proposal at the April 10 meeting and on the DNR website at http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/regulations/draftregulations.html

Scientific advice presented to the Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board indicates that striped bass management under Amendment 6 to the Interstate Plan continues to be a success. The benchmark stock assessment, recently endorsed by an independent panel of fishery scientists, concluded that striped bass are not overfished and overfishing in not occurring.

The project estimates that the striped bass spawning stock biomass totals about 55 million pounds, well above the target and threshold levels set by the plan. Abundance of juvenile striped bass was estimated to be strong, with young fish from the 2003 spawn being the strongest class.

Total striped bass harvest (commercial and recreational) in 2006 was estimated at 3.82 million fish, a 46 percent increase from 2002 (prior to the implementation of Amendment 6). Maryland dominated the commercial harvest, with commercial fishermen taking 1.05 million fish. Maryland’s share of the total commercial landings was 62%. Commercial discards in 2006 were estimated at 216,753 fish.

The study reports that recreational anglers harvested 2.77 million fish and had discard losses 2.07 million fish, accounting for for 79 percent of total fishery removals in 2006. Maryland recreational fishermen harvested the highest number of fish with 24 percent of total recreational landings in number, followed by Virginia (22 percent), New Jersey (18 percent), Massachusetts (12 percent), and New York (11 percent).

Copies of the stock assessment will be available on the Commission website (www.asmfc.org under Breaking News) by mid-February. For more information, please contact Nichola Meserve, Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, at (202)289-6400 or <nmeserve@asmfc.org>.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Service has released information about the 2007 Maryland Chesapeake Bay blue crab harvest.  The estimated 2007 harvest is 21.8 million pounds, approximately 6 million pounds below  the 2006 harvest and slightly above Maryland’s lowest recorded harvest of 20.2 million pounds in 2000.

“The low 2007 blue crab harvest is the result of many factors including: low abundance due to poor reproduction of young blue crabs in late 2006; reduced fishing effort; and unusual climatic conditions that caused blue crabs to move further north up the Bay’s tributaries, making them less accessible to large crab pot fishing operations,” explained DNR Fisheries Biologist Lynn Fegley.

Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley has directed DNR to begin developing a series of management options in consultation with stakeholders. Maryland is also working with Virginia and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission to ensure coordination of possible management actions.

“Since 70 percent of the Bay’s female blue crabs are harvested from Virginia waters,we must work together to coordinate action toward a solution,” said DNR Secretary John Griffin,” and both states must enforce their fair share of any necessary restrictions if we are to ensure the future of our blue crab population.”

Officals claim that Maryland will factor in scientific assessment of the relative effects of management options on the blue crab population numbers prior to implementing any restrictions, which could occur as early as April 2008.

“Recently, the blue crab has been in the headlines because of reduced catches by commercial and recreational crabbers in the Bay,” claims Frank Dawson, DNR Assistant Secretary for Aquatic Resources. “While harvesting is a major factor in affecting the crab population, impaired habitat — particularly the loss of bay grasses due to poor water quality — has also significantly contributed to the problems facing our state’s treasured blue crabs.”

Secretary Griffin went on to state that “Every Maryland citizen and business has a role in helping to protect our blue crabs and restore the Chesapeake,” adding “…we all need to start taking actions in our daily lives to live more sustainably, to ensure a healthy future for our blue crabs, our children and our beloved Bay.”

Maryland has restricted the 2008 commercial yellow perch fishery after complaints by recreational anglers. Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced Wednesday that commercial fishermen won’t be allowed to catch yellow perch during the first two weeks of March. The closure dates are typically when 70 percent of Maryland’s commercial yellow perch harvest is caught. “It’s a very short, very intense fishery,” said Harley Speir, head of DNR’s Fisheries Service.

DNR officials conceded that there’s no scientific reason they are cutting off the commercial harvest, which averages about 55,000 pounds a year. Recreational anglers complain that commercial watermen don’t give them a fair shot at competing for yellow perch because of fyke nets that catch perch during the early spawning runs.

“These efforts represent another step in our multi-year endeavor to develop a new, more sustainable yellow perch management plan,” said Acting Fisheries Service Director Harley Speir. “DNR will continue to review the objectives and strategies in the Yellow Perch Fisheries Management Plan in the coming months and use this revised plan to frame the regulatory proposal for 2009.”

Spier explained why the commercial harvest will be cut when the stock is not in danger, saying “One of the things fisheries management tries to do is maximize social as well as economical benefits.”

The new regulations prohibit the use of fyke nets in tributaries upstream of any point of less than 200 feet in width during February 2008 and extend the prohibition on commercial harvest and sale of yellow perch through to March 14. This aims to enable yellow perch to migrate to historical spawning rivers and streams. Additionally, DNR designated two restoration creeks, McIntosh Run off Breton Bay (St. Mary’s County) and Northeast Creek off Northeast River (Cecil County), where recreational harvest and commercial harvest will be prohibited from February 1 through March 31.

The regulations will apply to the 2008 season and will take effect on Jan. 28, 2008. The final regulations will appear in the Maryland Register on Jan. 18.