Prompted by recent concern about the condition of the blue crab fishery, a number of bills were introduced that would have placed restrictions on the blue crab harvest. After the adoption of a series of regulations by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission in January, most of the bills were withdrawn by their patrons. One bill that was adopted gives the VMRC authority to shorten or close the crab season for reasons related to conservation. Previously, the commission could only modify the length of the season to compensate for lost fishing days that resulted from poor weather conditions. As a result of a study conducted by the Chesapeake Bay Commission and the VMRC, a bill was adopted that gave the VMRC authority to change the definition of a peeler crab to limit the number of crabs that are taken in the early stages of molting.
Crabs are more likely to die when taken in the early stages of molting for use in peeler operations.
In a related habitat initiative, the VMRC was given specific statutory authority to consider impacts on submerged aquatic vegetation when granting habitat permits to use subaqueous lands. The one-year extension will allow legislators more time to consider the implications of the withdrawal. Prompted by the Chesapeake Bay Agreement and the directives adopted by the Chesapeake Executive Council, the Assembly adopted legislation codifying the process and deadlines for the development of tributary-specific nutrient reduction strategies for Virginia's rivers, including the Potomac , Rappahannock, York and James and the coastal rivers of the eastern and western shores. The bill establishes certain criteria for the strategies, including an analysis of costs and benchmarks to evaluate progress. The bill calls for all the strategies to be developed by Jan. 1, 1998.