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PUBLIC NOTICE   |   CHESAPEAKE BAY COMMERCIAL MATURE FEMALE HARD CRAB CATCH LIMIT, SEASON CLOSURES AND CREW REQUIRMENTS

PUBLIC NOTICE
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Fishing and Boating Services
CHESAPEAKE BAY COMMERCIAL MATURE FEMALE HARD CRAB CATCH LIMIT, SEASON CLOSURES AND CREW REQUIRMENTS

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service (MDNR) announces the commercial mature female hard crab bushel limit and closure periods for 2011 for the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries pursuant to COMAR 08.02.03.14G and notwithstanding COMAR 08.02.03.11A(5). Mature female hard crab bushel limits and closure periods are subject to change based on results of the 2010-2011 winter crab dredge survey (available mid-April) conducted by the MDNR and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. The daily commercial mature female hard crab bushel limits for 2011 are as follows:

  Bushel Limits by License Type
SeasonsLCCTFL or CB3TFL with CB6 or CB3 with CB6TFL with CB9 or CB3 with CB9
April 1– May 312101520
June 16 – August 31261015
Sept. 1 – Nov. 1010253545

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 2011 closure periods for commercial mature female hard crab harvest will be from June 1 though June 15, inclusive; and November 11 through December 15, inclusive. All crab harvest is prohibited from December 16 through March 31, inclusive.

As described in Annotated Code of Maryland, Natural Resources Article, §4-814, a 600 pot authorization (CB6) requires the license holder to have one crew member in addition to him/herself and a 900 pot authorization (CB9) requires the license holder to have two crew members in addition to him/herself on board. These additional crew members must be on board the vessel in order for the licensee to harvest at the bushel limit assigned to a CB6 or CB9. If crew members are not on board, then the licensee is restricted to the TFL or CB3 bushel limits.

John R. Griffin
Maryland Department of Natural Resources