Maryland and Virginia in war of words over crabs with big harvest decision

Virginia state regulators removed an important protection for the blue crab Tuesday when they narrowly approved reopening the winter season after a 15-year closure, subjecting the vulnerable and keystone species to additional harvest. and provoking a strong response from Maryland's Department of Natural Resources.

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission voted 5-4 on June 25 to reopen the winter crab dredge fishery, going against VMRC’s staff recommendation and nearly 200 public comments in opposition to the reopening.

“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," said Chris Moore, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia executive director. "It is incredibly disappointing. 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."

Crabbing is currently only allowed between March through the middle of December in Virginia. The winter dredge season, which could extend crabbing beyond December, primarily targets female crabs, which are key to a strong crab population. VMRC is expected to decide the parameters of the reopened winter dredge season in September.

In response to the decision, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz issued the following statement:

“In Maryland we are committed to making management decisions based on data. The data show that female crabs are below target levels and lower than last year’s abundance. We also see persistent below-average numbers of young crabs. The success of the species’ recovery after a steep decline in the 2000s can be directly traced to Maryland and Virginia cooperatively managing blue crabs, especially females, based on science. Today’s action by Virginia breaks with this successful approach.

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Is winter dredging too big of a risk?

The winter dredge fishery primarily harvests female blue crabs, whose numbers declined by nearly 20 million in the recent annual estimate of blue crab numbers in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. This reduction in the estimated population was the focus of much of the opposition.

In addition, those opposed also noted the ongoing stock assessment, which is expected to shed new light on the Bay’s blue crab population in March 2026.

“The best available science calls for continuing a precautionary approach for female blue crabs, not an increase in harvest during the winter months," Moore said. "Overwintering adult females are an important segment of the population that helps ensure sustainable blue crab numbers and support other harvests throughout the year. In addition to declines in female crab numbers, the annual survey results showed a low number of male crabs, and persistently below-average numbers of young crabs."

In 2024, according to the survey, the adult female crab population decreased to 133 million compared with 152 million last year. This figure falls far below the target of 215 million adult female crabs needed for a healthy population and sustainable harvest in the Chesapeake Bay.

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The winter dredge fishery involves scraping crabs from the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay where they lie semi-dormant through the winter. Declines in the blue crab population led to a fishery disaster declaration in 2008. That year, numerous Chesapeake Bay–wide conservation measures were enacted that included closing the winter dredge fishery.

The foundation also noted adding this new harvest while an assessment of the blue crab population is ongoing is "ill-advised." They also cautioned Virginia needs to maintain a precautionary approach for the sake of all crabbers and the health of the Chesapeake Bay, not take an avoidable risk with a vital species.

Maryland's lackluster crab year

The latest Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey has revealed an overall dip in crabs in Maryland waterways amid continuing decreasing numbers.

“This vote represents a major breakdown in the cooperative management of blue crabs across the Chesapeake Bay," said Allison Colden, the foundation's Maryland executive director. "The partnership between Virginia, Maryland and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission has been key to maintaining a more productive and stable blue crab population since its drastic decline in the early 2000s."

Colden added Virginia's decision "damages" this partnership and undermines the need for conservative management of the species which has seen below average numbers throughout the Chesapeake Bay for years.

According to the study, an estimated 317 million blue crabs were found in the Chesapeake Bay in 2024, compared to 323 million crabs last year. Among other harbingers that spawning grounds have been negatively impacted are findings like the number of spawning age female crabs decreased from 152 million crabs in 2023 to 133 million crabs in 2024, but that is still well above the management threshold of 72.5 million crabs.

Adult male crabs also experienced a decrease, from 55 million crabs in 2023 to 46 million crabs in 2024. The number of juvenile crabs in the Chesapeake Bay has been below average for the past four years, but rose to 138 million juvenile crabs in 2024.

The study was a cooperative effort between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

The state's Department of Natural Resources contends blue crab reproduction is naturally variable and influenced by many factors, including oceanic conditions, available nursery habitat, predation and other environmental impacts.

The consecutive years of low juvenile abundance prompted the Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee to plan a new stock assessment for blue crabs, which will begin this summer. The new assessment will allow fishery managers to take an in-depth look at their understanding of the ecology of this species, how it is modeled and whether the reference points used for management should be revised.

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