Budget cuts stall plan for better blue crab tags

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) - A Virginia plan to better regulate fishing of endangered Chesapeake Bay blue crabs by tagging crab pots is on hold because of expected state spending cuts.

Under the Virginia Marine Resources Commission plan, watermen would be required to put a new colored tag on each of their crab pots. The tag would make it easier for marine officers to identify illegal crab pots and for the regulatory commission to keep track of how many pots are in the water.

Now, watermen are required to put their license number on the...