The stock of crabs is low in the Chesapeake Bay. This is not the first time it has been low. It has been going on for years.

Restrictions are continually being placed on the crabber. But putting more restrictions on the crabber is not going to solve the problem, it is only going to slow the decline until the resource is eliminated. 

"The Virginia Marine Resource Commission Management Plan for Blue Crab" states that:

Ongoing losses in submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) that serves as primary nursery areas for juvenile crabs and reduction of oyster reefs that provide food and refuge for age 1+ crabs evidently impede the growth of this stock.  VIMS indicates there is evidence of high mortality rates of juvenile crabs tied to the loss of SAV, and this loss has a direct impact on recruitment to age 1+ .  The extent of predation on blue crabs by predators such as striped bass, red drum, and Atlantic croaker is unknown.

The report goes on to further say, "Despite evidence that the blue crab stock faces many environmental challenges, the management plan must continue to promote measures that can lead to annual exploitation rates that are near the target level exploitation rate (u = 0.46)."

Great Management!

Don't fix the problem.

It takes more than a bumper sticker that says, "Save the Bay"