The new regulations are designed to help rebuild the bay’s blue crab population and fishery. The proposed regulations continue the scientifically established conservation goals of reducing female blue crab harvest by 34 percent, ensuring that no more than 46 percent of the blue crab population is harvested annually.
 
“These regulations reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that Maryland’s iconic blue crab, and the local businesses and favorite family and community gatherings who rely upon it, continue for generations to come,” said Gov. Martin O’Malley. “From these regulations, we expect scientifically measurable benefits, and a more sustainable future for both blue crabs and watermen.”

O’Malley went on to state that the environmental need for these regulations, combined with federal and state assistance for impacted watermen, would provide the most sensible path to restore the Chesapeake’s blue crab population.

 “Recognizing the influence of harvest restrictions, we designed the 2009 regulations to make the impact more manageable and equitable throughout the bay and season, while still protecting the most reproductively valuable female blue crabs,” said DNR Secretary John R. Griffin.
 
The proposed regulations close the commercial season for harvesting mature female hard crabs from June 1 through June 15, Sept. 26 through Oct. 4, and Nov. 11 to Dec. 15, 2009 and limits excess harvest capacity by temporarily freezing Limited Commercial Crabbing licenses that were not used between 2004 and 2008.

The proposal plans to implement daily catch limits for female crabs once the 2009 winter dredge survey is complete in April. If the survey shows a significant improvement in the bay’s blue crab population, DNR may consider liberalizing commercial bushel limits and season dates. However, if the survey indicates a population decrease, further harvest restrictions would be necessary.
 
What might be the most controversial aspect of the new regulations is the requirement that require all recreational crabbers not currently licensed to register for a complimentary license from DNR online or at one of the DNR seven license service centers across the state. In addition to this new licensing requirement, the regulations extend the prohibition on female blue crab harvest for recreational crabbers.
 
“We need more precise, annual bay-wide recreational blue crab harvest information in order to better manage this fishery,” explained Tom O’Connell, Maryland Fisheries Service Director.  “By requiring that all recreational crabbers are either licensed or registered, we can increase the accuracy of our survey and more reliably obtain the information our biologists need.”
 
The current population of adult or reproductive-age blue crabs is 120 million crabs, only slightly above the established minimum safe threshold of 86 million and is 70 percent lower than 1990 levels. The conservation target is to increase the crab population to 200 million crabs. 
 
It is thought that the best and most efficient way to effect a recovery is to protect the female blue crab population. DNR officials state that they will continue to work with scientists, recreational crabbers, the commercial crab industry, conservationists, and local businesses to ensure a sustainable future for blue crabs.

DNR will hold a public hearing on the proposed regulations at 6 p.m. on Jan. 27, in the Queen Anne County Public Library. 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, Md. 21401, by calling (410) 260-8260, faxing (410) 260-8278 or emailing to fisheriespubliccomment@dnr.state.md.us.