Watermen Await Md. Crab Regulation Changes
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Maryland watermen could hear this week whether crabbing harvest regulations will be changed.
State officials say changes could include higher fall bushel limits for female crabs and opening of a June closure period for female crabs to take advantage of higher June crab prices.
The proposed changes are based on results of the annual winter dredge survey. Survey results released earlier this year showed a cold winter killed nearly a third of the bay's adult crabs.
The crab harvest, meanwhile, increased last year, but the Department of Natural Resources says it was still below the level set to maintain a healthy population. State officials say the population is still above target levels for recovery of the fishery.
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