CMAC recommends March 15 season start, keeps bushel limits; committee votes 7–1

At its May 27 meeting, the Crab Management Advisory Committee voted to recommend that the commission keep staff’s season and bushel-limit recommendations but move the hard-crab pot season start date from March 17 to Monday, March 15. The motion passed 7–1.

Staff had recommended status quo dates while the committee awaits the updated 2025 stock assessment this summer. The status-quo recommendations presented by staff were: hard-crab pot season March 17–Dec. 19 (committee members noted the committee preference to end on the Saturday of the month), a high-bushel window May 16–Oct. 31, peeler and other gear April 15–Oct. 15, and closure of the winter dredge fishery. CMAC acknowledged that a comprehensive review after the stock-assessment update could prompt broader changes but agreed the March 15 start gives harvesters a full Monday start and eases logistical concerns about taking pots up and avoiding weekend weather issues.

A motion to adopt status quo dates with the modified March 15 start was made and seconded; the committee allowed discussion before voting. One member said he would prefer to wait for the stock assessment for any larger regulatory changes and therefore did not support sweeping changes at the meeting, but voted in favor of the start-date motion. The recorded vote was seven in favor and one opposed.

The committee also discussed enforcement and reporting issues elsewhere on the agenda, and staff reiterated that most management measures will be revisited after the stock-assessment update is released and presented at the commission meeting scheduled for June 23.