Maryland 2009 CHESAPEAKE BAY COMMERCIAL MATURE FEMALE HARD CRAB CATCH LIMITS

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) announces the commercial mature female hard crab bushel limits and closure periods for 2009 for the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries pursuant to COMAR 08.02.03.14. The daily commercial mature female hard crab bushel limits for 2009 will be as follows:

Seasons LCC TFL OR CB3 TFL with CB6 OR CB3 with CB6 TFL with CB9 OR CB3 with CB9

Bushels

April 1- May 31 2 10 15 20

June 16 – August 31 2 6 10 15

Sept. 1 – Nov. 10
(except Sept./Oct. closure) 10 25 35 45

The above acronyms stand for: LCC – Limited Crab Harvester License 50 pots; CB3 – Crab Harvester License 300 pots; CB6 – 600 pot authorization; CB9 – 900 pot authorization; and TFL – Unlimited Tidal Fish License.

The 2009 closure periods for commercial mature female hard crab harvest will be from June 1 through June 15, inclusive; September 26 through October 4, inclusive; and November 11 through December 15 inclusive. Mature female hard crab bushel limits and closure periods are subject to change based on results of the 2008-2009 winter crab dredge survey conducted by MDNR and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

John R. Griffin
Secretary
Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Seasons	LCC	TFL OR CB3	TFL with CB6 OR CB3 with CB6	TFL with CB9 OR CB3 with CB9
Seasons	Bushels
April 1- May 31	2	10	15	20
June 16 – August 31	2	6	10	15
Sept. 1 – Nov. 10 (except Sept./Oct. closure)	10	25	35	45