2003 DNR blue crab estimates

[mariner]

DNR REPORTS:

The blue crab fishery has received much attention. The
     Maryland commercial harvest will top out around 23 million pounds, near
     average for the past 5 years but well below the long-term average for
     Maryland. Stock size is low but stable and we continue on the path to
     double the spawning stock of blue crabs to restore the population to
     average historic levels.
Some preliminary commercial landings for 2003 in
     pounds are: Atlantic menhaden-2,003,487; white perch-1,013,337; Atlantic
     croaker-558,733; summer flounder landings-157,097; bluefish-26,167; sea
     trout-11,216; channel catfish-585,433; spot-149,943; and striped
     bass-1,094,523. We’ll post the estimated recreational catch and harvest as
     soon as the survey estimates are verified.