But the panel further recommended cutting commercial harvests by 15 percent over the next three years, which would allow the states to preserve 20 percent of the unfished crab stock. To accomplish that, the DNR hoped to limit watermen to an eight-hour work day. But watermen testified at the hearing yesterday that such a limit would make their jobs nearly impossible. Under restrictions, they would have to fish through bad weather. She presented a new report by the commission's Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee showing that catches of blue crabs are shrinking, average crab size is declining and the number of female crabs has declined 70 percent since the 1980s.
Blue crabs are at the lowest point measured since fishery independent surveys began.
Opponents of the proposed regulations disagreed. Mr. Conway said the science upon which the DNR based its recommendations is open to interpretation, and crab populations fluctuate. The science is saying that crabs go through normal cycles. Chesapeake Bay Foundation scientist Stew Harris said the committee vote only delayed action that must eventually be taken if crabs are to be saved. The Associated Press contributed to this story.