Virginia regulators on Tuesday reinstituted a ban on dredging blue crabs during the winter months to try to help rebuild their numbers in the Chesapeake Bay.
The century-old winter harvest involves the dragging of steel-toothed dredges that scoop up hibernating crabs and primarily targets pregnant females. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission first approved a ban on the harvest in 2008, and since then the number of adult crabs in the bay has nearly doubled from 131 million to 254 million.
While the numbers are rising, an assessment released last month that used new scientific methods showed there need to be at least 215 million female crabs and a total population of 415 million adults to sustain the population. The latest count puts female adults at 194 million.
Scientists say the rising numbers are proof that the dredging ban is working and environmental groups quickly applauded their actions.
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