Commercial Mature Female Hard Crab Catch Limits — July through December 2020
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Fishing and Boating Services
Commercial Mature Female Hard Crab Catch Limits — July through December 2020
The Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, in consultation with blue crab
advisory groups, announces the commercial mature female hard crab catch limits for the
Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries for July through November 2020. Effective 12:01 a.m. July
1, 2020, the bushel limits are:
Mature female hard crab bushel limits are based on results of the winter crab dredge survey
conducted by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Virginia Institute of Marine
Science, and consultation with advisory groups.
Crew limits as described in Annotated Code of Maryland, Natural Resources Article, §4-814, are in
effect. If crew members are not on board, then the licensee is restricted to the TFL or CB3 bushel
limits.
WHERE THIS NOTICE APPLIES
This applies to the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries, including the Maryland tributaries of
the Potomac River.
WHY THIS IS NECESSARY
This action is necessary to ensure female blue crab harvest does not exceed the Chesapeake Bay
exploitation fraction threshold established in Amendment 2 to the Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab
Fishery Management Plan.
WHO THIS NOTICE AFFECTS
This applies to commercial crabbers who harvest female blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay and its
tidal tributaries.
AUTHORITY
Code of Maryland Regulations 08.02.03.14G.
Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio
Secretary of Natural Resources
