VA VMRC not making any changes to Crab Reg's for 2012

April 24, 2012: The Virginia Marine Resources Commission agreed to closely monitor the spring and summer crab harvest and decide in September whether to extend the commercial crab pot season by several weeks, into December. While the stock’s abundance has increased 66 percent since last year and the number of juvenile crabs has set a new record, due to a four-year stock rebuilding program, a drop in spawning-age females signals caution. The Commission indicated that any season extension may come with daily bushel limits to offset any harvest increase from a season extension.

THE COMMISSION WAS BRIEFED ON THE GOOD NEWS THAT BLUE CRAB ABUNDANCE HAS INCREASED 66 PERCENT FROM LAST YEAR, AND THAT THE NUMBER OF JUVENILE CRABS IN THE BAY TRIPLED – SETTING A NEW RECORD. THE COMMISSION DECIDED TO KEEP THE CURRENT CATCH REGULATIONS IN PLACE, MONITOR THE HARVEST CLOSELY AND IN SEPTEMBER CONSIDER WHETHER TO EXTEND THE FALL CRAB POT SEASON WITH DAILY BUSHEL LIMITS TO OFFSET ANY HARVEST INCREASE FROM A SEASON EXTENSION.