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MARYLAND DNR WITHDRAWS COMMERCIAL CATCHER PORTION OF 2009 REGULATORY PROPOSAL FOR BLUE CRAB
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Annapolis, Maryland - Maryland Department Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary John R. Griffin has announced the Department 's decision to withdraw the Limited Crab Catcher (LCC) component of the Department's 2009 blue crab regulatory proposal.

"During the course of public comment on the proposed 2009 regulations, the vast majority of verbal and written comment was directed at this latent effort provision," said Secretary Griffin." Many of those who commented expressed concern over the fairness of freezing the commercial licenses of individuals who have not been crabbing in efforts to restore crab populations. Others expressed concern that the proposal does not adequately address the full challenge of protecting a stressed crab population from over 6,000 commercial licensees, when less than one third of those licensees reported catching crabs in recent years."

Latent effort in the blue crab fishery remains a major concern as the work to rebuild blue crab populations continues. Latent effort is defined as licensed potential fishing effort that has not been used to full capacity in recent years. This includes licenses that are held, but not used, and fishermen that are fishing below licensed capacity. Large amounts of licensed latent effort re-entering the fishery could short circuit the rebuilding process and potentially shift available harvest away from active, full time watermen that depend on the fishery for their livelihood.

Although the LCC component has been removed for now, DNR has initiated a review of management goals and public comment on the latent effort issue to identify alternative solutions. The Department expects to re-propose regulatory action later this spring so that a regulation to address latent LCC effort is effective by September 1, 2009.

The new proposal will be a first step in a comprehensive strategy to strike the appropriate balance among the allowable harvest that a rebuilding crab population can support, the number of licensees and the long term commercial viability of the appropriate number of industry participants.

These alternative actions for removing latent LCC licenses will not fully address latent effort within the blue crab fishery. Fully addressing latent effort will require a full review of the commercial fisheries license structure. While addressing LCC concerns in 2009, DNR's Fisheries Service staff will undertake a comprehensive review of latent effort in the fishery. Comprehensive recommendations will be available in November of 2009. Failure to adequately address latent effort could lead to a need for alternative management approaches that depend upon in-season harvest monitoring program and more regular in-season harvest adjustments.

DNR is moving forward to adopt the balance of the commercial 2009 regulations.

Media Contact

Ray Weaver (410) 260-8002, (410) 507-7526 cell or rweaver@dnr.state.md.us

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MARYLAND DNR WITHDRAWS COMMERCIAL CATCHER PORTION OF 2009 REGULATORY PROPOSAL FOR BLUE CRAB - by FishNews - 05-31-2009, 11:13 AM

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