Newport News, Va. — The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) voted Tuesday to reverse its earlier decision to reopen the blue crab winter harvest, reinstating the ban for the upcoming season. The move comes after the Commission, in June, had repealed a 15-year-long ban on winter blue crab dredging, following a recommendation from the Blue Crab Management Advisory Committee.
In a 4-1 vote, the VMRC approved restoring the ban for “at least” this winter season. During its October session, the Commission will discuss the possibility of a December extension, as well as opening the blue crab season earlier in March. Currently, the season runs from mid-March through mid-December.
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) applauded the VMRC’s decision, which also included a month-long public comment period to gather feedback on the ban. “I am delighted the Commission followed the advice of its crab management advisory committee and will not consider opening a winter dredge fishery this season,” said CBF Virginia Executive Director Chris Moore. He noted concerns raised by the advisory committee about the potential impact of reopening the fishery at this time.
The CBF and environmental advocates argue that the winter dredge season primarily targets female crabs, which could exacerbate the decline of the female blue crab population. A 2024 study from the VMRC revealed that the adult female crab population decreased from 152 million in 2022 to 133 million in 2023.
Finally VMRC has regained it’s sanity
Now, if only they and the politicians could just ignore all of the bribes and payola and get rid of Omega Protein…
Tell that to the Waterman that made their living dredging crabs in the winter and their kids at Christmas time.
Bribes are the grease that keep the machinery of government running.
So the saying goes, anyway!
When there are little to no more crabs, there will be little to no more watermen.
Refer to:
“Killing the Goose that lays the Golden Eggs”
How much time have you spent ‘working on the water’ ?
I doubt you could make a pimple on a real waterman’s behind.
1976-77 worked on 110′ steel factory clam ship Nettie Maupin out of Baltimore.
1979 worked on 55′ wooden two man shrimp boat out of Key West.
1990-2000 lived aboard 1964 36′ wooden ChrisCraft Challenger Express fishing the bay and offshore with commercial tuna permit.
How many ‘signs’ do clams produce.
How many signs can be seen on a peeler crab’s swimmer fin?
How do you mudlark for peelers?
How wide are crab scrapes?
Most clam boats go out of Wildwood or Atlantic City…but Baltimore? Be a long ride down the Chesapeake and back up the Atlantic to those clam beds.
But, I will take your word for it.
I suggest a Large Warm glass of Prune Juice…
Nettie Maupin was ported out of Baltimore. Docked at Little Creek and unloaded seaclam (quahog) cages in Norfolk down by Norfolk General Hospital.
That was about a half century ago.
We’d go out for a week or more untill slam full.
You need not take my word for anything son.