Crabbing Regulations

Graph 2 shows the fall in the yield in recent years (Maryland Sea Grant 2002). Numerous factors are believed to have led Maryland to the controversial employment of the latest regulations. Scientists and Bay organizations have backed these moves to manage and restore the population; however the effects of such restrictions have created much worry in the crabbing industry. The struggle is to find the ideal balance between the two sides.
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             Reasons for recent regulations.
             The need for these new regulations comes from numerous problems, in addition to over-fishing, that have led to the decline of the blue crab population. The most prominent issues facing the bay are not so obvious. Increased sediments in the water, an overabundance of nutrients, and an overpopulation of striped bass are to blame for a large portion of the decline in blue crab populations (Chesapeake Bay Program September 2001). .
             Erosion has become an ever-growing phenomenon in the bay caused by human activities ranging from urbanization to farming. Sediments from the Chesapeake watershed are washed away by rivers and streams and eventually are dumped into the Bay. As the sediments begin to settle on the bottom of the bay, they often smother vegetation and animals. Also, the turbulent waters of the bay keep some of the sediments suspended in the water. Much of the sunlight that is necessary for the underwater plants is filtered out and never actually makes it to the plants. Consequently the vegetation dies and a key ingredient in the ecosystem is lost. In fact, only 10% of historical levels of SAV beds remain on the Bay's floor (Frymier 2002). Crabs lose a vital source of protection during molting periods making them increasingly vulnerable as prey. The Bay's food chain is also drastically affected. Creatures that eat plants can not survive because of the lack of nutrient resources. This then decreases the food supply for the predators of those creatures and begins the domino effect eventually reaching the blue crab (Chesapeake Bay Program September 2001).