THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 26, 1994 TAG: 9410260453
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMES SCHULTZ, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
Heeding pleas from crabbers and the seafood industry, state regulators Tuesday backed away from sweeping limits on the blue crab harvest.
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission adopted more modest restrictions, even as commissioners worried that they weren't doing enough to stop the two-year decline of the Chesapeake Bay's crab population.
``For two years, we've tried to do things for crabs and not really done very much,'' complained commissioner Peter Rowe. ``This is not any major cutback. This preserves the status quo. This is the absolute, bare-bones minimum.''
Commission chairman William A. Pruitt, who lobbied for the more moderate approach, urged his colleagues to wait and see whether the modified proposals would bear fruit.
``The (crab) stock is not anywhere near collapse,'' Pruitt asserted. ``There may be a turnaround. If there's a turnaround, we'll take a few regulations off the books. If there's not, we'll bite the bullet and take further action.''
Commissioners established a nine-month crabbing season, from April 1 through Nov. 30, and limited the number of crab traps, or pots, that can be set from each crabber's boat during certain months.
They mandated more escape hatches in crab pots to help prevent the killing of young, undersized crabs. They established crab sanctuaries in the Bay, along the Eastern Shore and in an area bounded by the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel.
But the commission declined to enact several measures recommended by its own staff and researchers at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Those measures included minimum harvest sizes and a prohibition on taking pregnant female crabs.
Commissioners tabled for further study an even more controversial proposition to limit the entry of new fishers into crabbing.
Commissioner Jane C. Webb said, ``I came onto the commission six years ago. One of the things that's scary about today is we talked then about the oysters. . . . Look what's happened. There aren't any oysters.''
Watermen reacted cautiously to the commission's actions.
``We'd like to see them take a slower approach,'' said Jeff Crockett, president of the Tangier Waterman's Association and spokesman for five other state associations. ``It's not exactly what we wanted. But it's a relief. Now we can relax for a year.''
The commission is unlikely to take up the issue again before next fall.
Studies by the marine science institute indicate that the blue crab populations have plummeted 61 percent over the past two decades, when compared to a preceding 20-year period ending in 1974. VIMS researchers fear that harvests could reach a 35-year low by the end of this year.
``All our indices are going down,'' said Romuald Lipcius, a crab specialist and associate professor at the institute. ``We may be approaching a crisis. (These proposals) may not prevent that crisis.'' MEMO: DECISIONS
NEW PROPOSALS
Trapping season for hard and peeler crabs shortened from year-round
to nine months, April 1 through Nov. 30.
Winter dredge size limit set at 8 feet; unchanged from the previous
season.
More escape hatchers, or cull rings, placed on hard and peeler crab
traps to allow younger crabs to escape.
Limits on the numbers of peeler crab traps that can be released from
boats: 200 from April 1 through June 30, 400 from July 1 to Nov. 30.
NOT ENACTED
Minimum harvest-size limits on all crabs;
Release of pregnant females back into the wild.
UNDER STUDY
Restrictions on the number of hard crab traps; there is no limit
currently.
Restrictions on on entry of new watermen into crabbing.
ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by JOSEPH JOHN KOTLOWSKI, Staff
Pushed outside by Monday's standing-room only hearing were Mathews
crabbers Chase Morgan and Robert Edwards.
Drawing
KEYWORDS: CRABS by CNB