Chesapeake Bay News

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.

This gallery has images of boats of the Chesapeake Bay region, including classic Chesapeake Bay deadrise workboats, oyster boats, crabbing boats, dredge boats, buy boats, charter boats, skipjacks and other vessels.

The Bow of a Chesapeake Bay Deadrise Work Boat

The Steven Thomas of Tangier Island Cruises

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission will hold a public hearing in Newport News, Va., on Tuesday, Feb. 26, to discuss potential harvest restrictions for blue crab, including shortening the season.

The state’s 2006 crab catch was the lowest recorded since 1945 and 2007 blue crab harvest was also very low according to a Virginia Marine Resources Commission report.

Jack Travelstead, chief fisheries regulator for the Virginia Marine Resources Commission described the current crab status, saying “A major storm or a significant die off of aquatic vegetation that prevents a good spawn could crash the population to levels we’re not sure would ever recover.”