Posted Tuesday April 22, 2008

 

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Service has scheduled a public hearing on proposed emergency blue crab regulations on May 7, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at Governor’s Hall at Sailwinds Park, 200 Byrn Street, Cambridge, MD.

The proposed regulations will: close the season for commercial harvest of female crabs on October 23; provide a tolerance of 5 female crabs per bushel or 13 female crabs per barrel during the period September 1 thru December 15; provide variable bushel limits for the harvest of mature female hard crabs from September 1 thru October 22; clarify the catch limit for harvest from a pound net; prohibit the recreational harvest of female crabs (except soft crabs); lower the target on LCC licenses by 150; set a management control date of December 16, 2007.

All interested parties are invited to attend and give their views. Sign language interpreters and other appropriate accommodations for individuals with disabilities will be provided upon request.