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DNR Withdraws Limited Commercial Catcher Portion of 2009 Blue Crab Regulatory Proposals
Department to Develop Comprehensive Strategy to Address Latent Effort in Fishery
Annapolis, Md. (February 26, 2009) - Maryland Department Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary John R. Griffin announced today that the Department has decided 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.
February 26, 2009 Contact: Ray Weaver
410-260-8002 office I 410-507-7526 cell
rweaver@dnr.state.md.usMaryland 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