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According to the results of the 2023-2024 Chesapeake Bay Winter Dredge Survey, adult male and female blue crab abundance decreased, and the female population remains below the target threshold. Juvenile crab abundance is nearly 1/2 of what it should be. In spite of this, harvest by weight, dockside value and the number of crabbers all increased in 2023. There is no need to re-open winter crab dredging too soon.
Now is the time to continue conservation measures to protect winter female crabs, many of which have yet to spawn. It's short-sighted to borrow from the future to benefit the wallets of a few.