DNR Continues to Seek Public Comment on Potential Blue Crab Regulations
Joint Sport Fish & Tidal Fish Advisory Committee Scheduled on April 10

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ANNAPOLIS, MD — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is currently working to develop a draft regulatory proposal for blue crabs. Based on the high volume of constructive input offered thus far, DNR is revising its initial draft regulatory proposal, which will be presented at a joint Sport Fish and Tidal Fish Advisory Commission Meeting on Thursday, April 10. Individuals will be offered an opportunity to comment at the Commissions’ meeting, which will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Calvary United Methodist Church, 301 Rowe Blvd. in Annapolis.

“We are encouraged that so many people have expressed their concerns about restoring a healthy blue crab population in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries,” said Frank Dawson, DNR Assistant Secretary for Aquatic Resources. “We also recognize the great economic and social values that blue crabs provide to local businesses and recreational crabbers.”

DNR began scoping preliminary regulatory ideas in February 2008 through a series of seven public and Advisory Commission meetings and an on-going online comment process. The revised draft regulatory concepts reflect substantive changes based on the more than 600 comments received from recreational and commercial crabbers, local businesses, conservation organizations and concerned citizens. Continued coordination with Virginia provided the opportunity to manage a multi-jurisdiction natural resource cooperatively to meet a conservation goal based on the blue crab winter dredge survey results.

Individuals may view and comment on the revised draft regulatory proposal at the April 10 meeting and on the DNR website at http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/regulations/draftregulations.html

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April 4, 2008

Contact: Olivia Campbell 410-260-8016 office I 410-507-7525 cell ocampbell@dnr.state.md.us

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov