The Committee will be a watchdog for the fishery, will be part of the dynamic process to change management plans as change is needed, and will encourage equitable balances between different user groups. Several members expressed concern that a topic area including watermen, fishing communities, and culture receive its own bulleted objective. Delegate Bloxom commented on the importance of a socioeconomic component. Delegate Murphy suggested that the Management Objectives should include a component focusing on saving the economic viability of the crab fishery. Wes Conley and Andrew Tolley expressed the importance of considering economics, especially the role and susceptibility of the Chesapeake Bay blue crab industry in the international arena.
Processors face strong competition from domestic and international markets.
Different markets and classes of crabs are subject to various prices. Delegate Murphy noted that all the various classes within the blue crab fishery are all drawing on the same stock. He stated that the Committee needs to designate the carrying capacity of the blue crab stock and then get into the economic sub-groups. The 1996 Crab Harvest agenda item inserted at this point prior to discussion on Status of Stock Jack Travelstead and A.C. Carpenter were not able to attend due to inclement weather. Bill Pruitt started the presentation by commending the Committee for its approach.