THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 29, 1996 TAG: 9601290111
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SCOTT HARPER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
When members of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission adopted new protections Tuesday for the troubled Chesapeake Bay blue crab, not all their thoughts were on crabs, watermen and seafood markets.
They also were on Richmond.
At the Capitol, several politicians were watching and waiting with crab-conservation bills at the ready - just in case commission members ``caved in again to all the pressure,'' as one state senator put it.
The VMRC has often been criticized for being too close to watermen and the Virginia seafood industry. Critics say this can lead to weak rules and belated action in conserving fish and shellfish in state waters.
While the commission compromised on several fronts Tuesday, most lawmakers said afterward they generally were pleased with the outcome and would withdraw their legislative proposals or let them die.
State Del. Harvey B. Morgan, a Gloucester Republican, said he never intended to try to pass two crab bills he sponsored. He just wanted to make sure the commission ``knew in advance that we were concerned.''
``We kind of wanted to send a message,'' Morgan said Friday. ``If they didn't do something, we would.''
Call it gentle persuasion, leverage or even legislative blackmail. But the case illustrates how politics often plays as big a role in delicate fishery decisions as marine science or market economics.
Both sides say politics should not influence such technical decisions. But then both sides say they often have no choice but to exert influence to win wise policy.
At one point in Tuesday's marathon hearing, commission member George Forrest, a retired crab buyer from Poquoson, said the commission needed to pass something to ``alleviate the pressure from the General Assembly.''
His colleague, environmental lawyer Peter Rowe, quickly responded that the commission should pass regulations not to escape criticism from Richmond but because the commission thinks its proposed regulations are good ones.
Of course, politics works both ways. And commission chairman William Pruitt makes no secret of his disdain for ``Richmond's interference'' in fishery issues. The position has endeared him to most of the 3,000 commercial fishermen in Virginia but has ruffled plenty of feathers in the capital.
One bill that has not been withdrawn would essentially strip Pruitt of his powers on the commission. Its sponsor, Del. I. Vincent Behm Jr., a Hampton Democrat, was reportedly upset with how the latest crab crunch was handled.
For nearly a year, Virginia wrestled with scientific surveys and data that showed a consistent decline of crab stocks in the Bay, especially adult females. The signature species of the Bay, the blue crab provides thousands of jobs in Virginia and delivers some $88 million a year to the state's economy.
Unlike Maryland, Virginia waited to see the results of a comprehensive federal study before tackling new regulations. That study, released two weeks ago, determined that recent declines were merely natural fluctuations and were not linked to overfishing.
Most lawmakers filed their strict bills before study results were released.
Sen. Warren E. Barry, R-Fairfax, and Del. W. Tayloe Murphy Jr., D-Warsaw, both introduced legislation banning the harvesting of pregnant female crabs with dark-colored eggs visible on their bodies.
Their bills mirrored a proposal from state officials to stop the controversial taking of pregnant crabs, or sponge crabs, on the verge of giving birth.
Satisfied with the move, Murphy has withdrawn his sponge crab bill, and two others he introduced. While lightly applauding the compromise, Barry said he still has not decided whether to drop his legislation.
``I'll let it ride a week,'' he said. ``I still am not convinced this is enough to do the trick.''
Wilford Kale, senior policy analyst for the commission, said most legislative actions in recent years have given the VMRC more powers, not limited them.
``Obviously somebody out there thinks we're doing a good job,'' Kale said. by CNB