baltimoresun.com - Bay & Environment: Crab numbers dip lower

We have long been expecting the bad news about the Chesapeake Bay's crab harvest, and today we got it: Maryland's Department of Natural Resources announced that the harvest was 21.8 million pounds -- the second-lowest in 30 years. the last time it dipped anywhere near that was in 2000, prompting many restrictions in both Maryland and Virginia.

Asked what kind of restrictions we might expect this time, DNR officials declined to be specific. But Virginia is already talking about a few things -- shorter days, shorter seasons, tagging pots, etc.

I've heard they want to manage the crab fishery like the scallop fishery, but that's not so helpful to me, as I don't know much about scallops. Here's what I've written so far for the web. There will be more, much more in tomorrow's paper.

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About the bloggers

Rona Kobell reports on the Chesapeake Bay, and in her seven years with The Sun, she's visited clam farms in Virginia, a peeler pen on Taylors Island and a small market on Smith Island that serves what many people consider the best crab cake in the world (to judge for yourself, head to the Drum Point Market in Tylerton). Rona enjoys hanging out with her husband and daughter.

Tom Pelton writes about the environment and has been at The Sun for 10 years. He lives in the city with his wife, two daughters, and an exotic ecosystem that involves a cat, hamsters, hermit crabs, cacti, running shoes, drums, guitar, violins, mild cheeses and strong opinions.
Listen in: Tom Pelton's "The Environment in Focus"

Tim Wheeler writes about growth and base-realignment for The Sun. A reporter and editor here since 1985, the West Virginia native has spent most of his adult life around the bay. He lives in Catonsville, one of Baltimore's older, walkable suburbs.

Bay & Environment

Bay & Environment is The Sun’s blog devoted to news about Maryland’s environment

Crab numbers dip lower

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