Md., Va. announce crab population rebound in bay

ANNAPOLIS, MD – (AP) A new survey has found the Chesapeake Bay's adult population of blue crabs has increased substantially over last year after new management measures were put in place.

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced the results of the winter dredge survey Friday. They conduct the survey by dragging selected areas of the bay and counting the number of crabs found.

The most recent dredge survey estimates the total number of crabs overwintering in the Chesapeake Bay increased to just over 400 million, compared to 280 million last winter.

After last year's results showed a 70 percent drop in the blue crab population since 1993, Maryland and Virginia agreed to reduce the harvest of the spawning stock of female blue crabs by 34 percent in 2008.