1. Image or Graphic Recent Changes in Blue Crab Management Brenda Davis Blue Crab Program Manager Maryland Department of Natural Resources

2. How Many Crabs Should Be in the Bay – the abundance of spawning adults. (2008 winter dredge survey) Dangerously low

3. We can remove 46% of the crab population each year. If more than 53% of the population is removed, the population will begin to decrease. overfishing

4. The Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee’s (CBSAC) recommendation was to reduce bay wide harvest. The biggest benefit would be achieved if reductions were in female harvest.

5. Following CBSAC recommendation - “extending protection to female crabs will create the best odds of increasing the abundance of age 0 crabs.” Females are more heavily fished than males – this needs to be corrected. Increasing female abundance is the best bet for rebuilding the population as a whole. Why Females?

6. Maryland Proposes Regulations to Rebuild Blue Crab Population Annapolis MD – Today, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources proposed new recreational and commercial harvest regulations to help rebuilding the Chesapeake Bay blue crab population and fishery. The proposed regulations are designed to reduce female blue crab harvest by 34% in 2008.. THE DAILY NEWS www.dailynews.com Chesapeake Bay Area Newspaper - April 22, 2008

7. The commercial industry initially suggested a harvest history based allocation and that system was used to set bushel limits for the fall of 2008. Bushel limits in September and October of 2008 were based on reported female harvest in September and October 2004 to 2007.

8. Spawning-age (Age 1+) crabs in Chesapeake Bay from the 2009 Winter Dredge Survey

9. The percentage of crabs removed from the population each year by fishing relative to target and threshold levels through 2008.

10. Young-of-the-year (Age 0) crabs in Chesapeake Bay from the 2009 Winter Dredge Survey

11. DNR worked with members of the industry and developed a system where female bushel limits are in effect for the entire season, not just the fall, and are based on license type DNR worked with members of the industry and developed a system where female bushel limits are in effect for the entire season, not just the fall, and are based on license type. Changes for 2009 Crabbing Season

12. Spawning-age (Age 1+) crabs in Chesapeake Bay from the 2010 Winter Dredge Survey

13. The percentage of crabs removed from the population each year by fishing relative to target and threshold levels through 2009.

14. Young-of-the-year (Age 0) crabs in Chesapeake Bay from the 2009 Winter Dredge Survey Young-of-the-year (Age 0) crabs in Chesapeake Bay from the 2009 Winter Dredge Survey.

15. Governor Martin O’Malley Announces Chesapeake Bay Blue CrabPopulation Is At Its Highest Level Since 1997 Winter Dredge Survey Results Indicate 60% Increase; 658 Million Crabs Show Bi-State Management Actions Continue to Improve Abundance THE DAILY NEWS www.dailynews.com THE WORLD’S FAVOURITE NEWSPAPER - April 15, 2010

16. Is the blue crab population in a pinch? Is the blue crab population in a pinch? Brenda Davis Blue Crab Program Manager October 20, 2009

17. Chesapeake Bay Crabs Are Back Give ‘em a Whack! It’s a great time to enjoy some Chesapeake Bay crabs! Bay wide harvest restrictions for female blue crabs were put in place in 2008. Those restrictions combined with favorable environmental conditions have resulted in a significant increase in the number of crabs in the Bay. The harvest restrictions protecting female crabs are still in place to ensure a healthy population and a sustainable fishery.

18. Does this mean we’re done? Absolutely Not! We need to continue limiting the amount of females harvested to have any hope of obtaining a sustainable population.