The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) is working hard to reduce the commercial fishing pressure on the Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab population. The population of these crabs is stagnant at such a level for more than a decade that raises the fear of its extinction. The Commission informed that the population of the blue crabs has declined over the past 15 years and shows no signs of progress. A panel of crab biologists has concluded that the main reason is over fishing.
Virginia fishermen have exceeded the targeted fishing rate that has reduced the population of the Chesapeake’s blue crab at about 30 percent of its size in the early 1990s, says the panel. Commissioner Steven G. Bowman said that after seeing this stern measures should be taken to protect this valuable fishery.
Jack Travelstead, VMRC’s deputy commissioner, informed that the report shows that up till now 22 protective measures Virginia has put in place since 1994, but are not as effective as they could be. Travelstead added that more aggressive measures are needed now. The commission has also welcome some short-term actions for immediate placement which include shortening the season and requiring crab pots to have larger “cull rings” — basically, escape hatches that allows smaller crabs to crawl out.
Doug E. Jenkins, president of the Twin Rivers Watermen’s Association, said that it is not good to put the blame of declining crabs number on overfishing. According to him poor state of underwater grass beds, a key habitat for young crabs, and the Chesapeake’s booming comeback of rockfish, a crab predator, are the main reasons for such decline.
