The Marine Resources Commission on June 24 adopted 2025–26 management measures for the commercial blue crab fishery, keeping seasons and bushel limits the same as the prior year and continuing the winter commercial dredge fishery closure. Commissioners approved staff recommendations and accepted a calendar adjustment to end the season on Saturday, Dec. 20.

Staff presented results from the 2024–25 winter dredge survey, conducted annually by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Staff reported total crab abundance declined 25% to an estimated 238,000,000 crabs; adult female abundance decreased 19% to about 108,000,000 (above the stated low threshold of 72,000,000 but below the abundance target of 196,000,000); adult male abundance fell about 43% to about 26,000,000; and juvenile abundance decreased roughly 25% to 103,000,000.

Staff noted the female exploitation rate for the fishery was about 22% in the most recent year, below the 37% overfishing trigger and the 28% management target. Harvest in Virginia fell about 17% to roughly 15,415,000 pounds and dockside value declined to about $34.5 million. Staff also flagged a longer-term trend of declining participation: of those eligible for a crab license, only about 57% were active fishers.

Based on those data, staff recommended a status-quo package for seasons and bushel limits for hard crabs and other gear types and recommended keeping the winter dredge fishery closed for Dec. 1, 2025–March 31, 2026. The Crab Management Advisory Committee (CMAQ) unanimously recommended status quo but asked the commission to set a season close on Saturday, Dec. 20 (rather than the weekday date staff proposed) to better align with weekend fishing patterns; staff had no objection to the Dec. 20 closing date.

Commissioner Headley moved to approve staff recommendations while adopting CMAQ’s suggested Dec. 20 closing date; Commissioner White seconded. The motion passed 6–0 (Commission Member Edwards was absent from the vote). The commission directed staff and CMAQ to continue work on a forthcoming benchmark stock assessment, to reconvene work groups on “sponge” (egg-carrying) crabs, and to revisit license-wait-list questions after the new stock assessment is complete.

Staff said a full benchmark stock assessment is expected to be peer-reviewed and available for management consideration in early spring 2026, and commissioners said they would revisit any measures if that assessment recommended changes.