PUBLIC NOTICE
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Fishing and Boating Services
Chesapeake Bay Commercial Mature Female Hard Crab Catch Limits and Crew Requirements

Chesapeake Bay

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service, pursuant to Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 08.02.03.14, announces the commercial mature female hard crab catch limits and closure periods for 2016 for the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries. Notwithstanding COMAR 08.02.03.11A(5), there are no closure periods for female harvest in 2016. The daily commercial mature female hard crab bushel limits for 2016 are as follows:

Daily Mature Female Bushel Limits by License Type
Seasons	LCC	TFL or CB3	TFL with CB6 or CB3 with CB6	TFL with CB9 or CB3 with CB9
April 1– May 31	2	5	8	15
June 1 – Aug 31	2	9	13	17
Sept 1 – Sept 30	5	17	26	35
Oct 1– Oct 31	5	18	27	36
Nov 1 – Nov 10	5	8	22	32
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

Mature female hard crab bushel limits and closure periods are subject to change based on results of the 2015-2016 winter crab dredge survey (available early May) conducted by the MDNR and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

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.

Contact BrendaK.davis for more information.

Mark J. Belton
Secretary
Maryland Department of Natural Resources

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