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Watermen voice opposition to cuts

Meeting tense over proposed limits on female crab harvest

By PAMELA WOOD, Staff Writer

Published 05/08/08

CAMBRIDGE - As the state moves closer to cutting the harvest of female blue crabs, watermen and seafood processors continue to oppose the measures.

Photo by Pamela Wood - The Capital

Nearly 200 people filled a cavernous meeting hall overlooking the Choptank River last night to show their opposition to the harvest rules, which primarily will affect Lower Eastern Shore watermen and processors who rely on the lucrative fall run of female crabs.

Every one of the 26 people who spoke were against the regulations. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is proposing cutting the commercial harvest of females short by seven weeks by closing it on Oct. 23, setting catch...

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Crabs - 2008-05-09 14:46:40

I completely understand the plite of the waterman. However, its simple; catch female crabs who carry the crabs for tomorrow and there will be no crabs for tomorrow.

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Deborah M. - Stevensville, MD - Karma: Bad

I can't believe - 2008-05-09 13:39:42

Virginia still allows the harvesting of pregnant female crabs?! That is the most ludicrous thing I have heard yet. What does everyone think that crabs magically appear in the Bay? No wonder the crab population has been depleted over the years. The regulations need to be shared by both states equally since they share the Bay's resources. I think its time that everyone anties up and give Mother Nature a chance to fix what disrespectful & greedy humans have - yet again - nearly destroyed.

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Susie M. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Bad

Critical Zones - 2008-05-09 11:20:00

The 1000 Ft Critical Zones really need to be enforced as well. All these people with big fancy homes on the water need to learn to follow the rules or have harsh penalties! ANd I get so sick of hearing how they don't want to be told what they can and cannot do on their private property ...... your property yes, however the Bay belongs to EVERYONE and I DO care about what happens to it!!!

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Kristina P. - Easton, MD - Karma: Bad

killing a friend - 2008-05-09 10:27:32

I grew up on the water and have watched the steady decline of the bay for 20 years. The crabs are gone...at least from the creeks and mud flats where you could hand dip them by the bushel load. Now I set out two pots off the end of our pier and it takes 3 days to get a dozen. But the crabs aren't the only things that are dissapearing. You can add horseshoe crabs, blue fish, trout, spanish mackeral, oysters, and sea grasses to the list. The bay does not have a healthy ecosystem. I personally believe that the regulations that are in place and those that are being proposed do not go far enough. How about banning crabbing altogether except for the month of July? Get rid of the bait nets that clutter the bay and impose harsh penalties for poluters. If something doesn't change soon the only things in the bay to catch will be sea nettles and sting rays.

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nancy robinson - stevensville, MD - Karma: Bad

Crabs - 2008-05-09 08:58:37

I agree 100%, without reducing the crab harvest it won't be long before there are NO crabs left to harvest! You would think the watermen would be more concerned with preserving their way of life. Turning things around will not be easy, but it can still be done ...... it's time the people of MD wake up, and get off their a$$es and do something!

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Kristina P. - Easton, MD - Karma: Bad

Let them cry - 2008-05-08 19:05:39

do the job your getting payed for &stop playing game with the maryland water ass.

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ALFRED PARKINSON 111 - GREENSBORO, MD - Karma: Bad

Crabs - 2008-05-08 15:01:41

This might sound stupid, but is it possible to clone crabs?

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Scott D. - Gambrills, MD - Karma: Bad

Crabs - 2008-05-08 14:51:09

Let's be clear, without reducing the current crab harvest, there will be no crab recovery. There is plenty of blame on why the current crab population is so bad and why the state of the bay is so bad. Turning things around will not be easy - but we need to start somewhere.

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N. Wallace - Davidsonville, MD - Karma: Neutral