Virginia and Maryland in spat over Chesapeake Bay crabbing plans

A Virginia commission’s decision to strike down a ban on the winter dredge harvesting of blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay drew sharp criticism from Maryland officials and regional environmentalists, who say it will further jeopardize the crab population and undermine efforts to protect the bay’s ecosystem.

But the vote did not go over well with Maryland leaders and environmental groups in Virginia and Maryland that have led efforts to stabilize the region’s blue crab population.A decision of this magnitude should have only been made with the support of scientists, in close consultation with Maryland officials, and in response to a significant increase in the blue crab population,Kurtz said data shows that the population of female crabs is “below target levels and lower than last year’s abundance.

“The Virginia Marine Resources Commission’s decision to reopen the winter crab season this year puts the prospect of a healthy blue crab population in the Chesapeake Bay in jeopardy. It is incredibly disappointing,” Chris Moore, the foundation’s Virginia executive director, said in a statement. “The VMRC’s vote imperils not only the vulnerable blue crab, but the sustainability of harvests throughout the year and other species in the Bay that depend on the blue crab for food.

The VMRC pushed back against the criticism, saying it “will always pursue fisheries management practices based around the best science.”

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