There's good news from the Chesapeake; it seems that the blue crabs are making somewhat of a comeback, proof say officials of the effectiveness of previous years of harvesting restrictions.
This is good news--for those of us who love to eat blue crabs on the Eastern Shore, for the watermen who collect them, and for the crabs themselves. As the article states, even this bumper crop is far below historic populations. I am hopeful that Maryland/Virginia officials will continue to work with the watermen to work out a way to sustain the crabs while sustaining the livelihoods of the watermen.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
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4 comments:
At first glance of your lead in, I thought the post would be about some sort of new STD...
Nope--simply a veiled attempt to attract you and your brood to drive down and pick some crabs with us this summer....
Absolutely. Just let us know when...
Interesting note I heard when up in Columbia MD this past weekend. The nearby Jessup Penetentiary and Women's Correctional Facility are being considered as sources for labor to help the crab picking industry. With the low wages people were making especially with the recent exodus of most waterman to greener pastures (tug boats, construction, etc), the people who for generations picked the crabs at various packing houses around the bay have now taken their unique and increasingly rare skills to other more stable employers (Walmart, Purdue, etc). So now, as the season resumes, those women (mostly) are unwilling to come back. Consequently, the Maryland Watermen's Association is working with the State Department of Corrections to see about a work release arrangement whereby prisoners would pick and pack crabs. While I've never taken issue with them stamping my license plates, I must admit to a bit of a phobia when it comes to people who have demonstrated an inability to comply with "big" laws also being asked to comply with the "little" laws like food service sanitation regulations. I haven't yet heard of any similar initiative in VA. I believe I'll forego the Maryland Crab Soup and Maryland Crabcakes this year, reserving the Virginia Crab Soup and Virginia Crabcakes as my preference. That said, if you should find yourself with an over-abundance of Maryland "pick your own" blue crabs I'll be more than happy to help you with those. (Did you see that subtle self-invite to a CW/GG family crab picking?)
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