Maryland Crabbing Violations Top 2K From 2013 To 2018

By Talia Dennis, Capital News Service

MARYLAND — More than 80 percent of all crab-related violations logged in Maryland from 2013 to 2018 occurred in Anne Arundel, Somerset, St. Mary’s, Talbot, Worcester and Queen Anne’s counties, which border the Chesapeake Bay. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recently reported 2,341 crab-related violations statewide during that timeframe with 27 types of infractions occurring, ranging from undersized crab possession to illegal harvesting methods.

Less than 2 percent of the violations during the six-year period came from counties that don’t border a body of water suitable for harvesting crabs — Prince George’s, Caroline, Washington, Montgomery, Carroll and Frederick — and saw a combined 46 violations.

All 20 of the licensed crab processors in Maryland are located in these counties, with the exception of Anne Arundel County. However, the data does not conclude these businesses are the biggest offenders because it includes recreational and commercial violators. Only 1.2 percent of all offenses are by corporations or businesses, with almost 40 percent of those violations reported in counties without crab processors.

Possession of undersized crabs was the highest reported infraction and made up nearly half of the reported violations. Crabbing or possessing crabs during the closed season was the second most common offense with 356 reported citations during the six-year period. Crab season opens April 1 and closes Dec. 15, according to DNR’s eRegulations website.

During crab season, soft crabs must measure at least 3.25 inches, tip to tip on the spikes, throughout the season, according to eRegulations. Male hard shell and peeler crabs must measure at least 5 and 3.25 inches respectively. After July 14, the size requirements increase for both male hard shell and peeler crabs by a quarter of an inch.

“Officers are issued gauges for each size limit outlined by regulation,” Lauren Moses, public information officer for the Natural Resources Police, told Capital News Service. “If one or both tips [of the crab] fits inside the gauge, the crab is below the legal limit.”

Moses explained that live crabs illegally possessed at the harvest site are immediately returned to the water. But the ones not discovered near the water are typically donated to a food bank or shelter, while rancid crabs are “disposed of properly,” she said. However, there are some cases where commercial watermen illegally possess the official state crustaceans in large quantities.

Moses said Natural Resources Police sometimes sell adequately sized crabs to a dealer. She explained the money is held until a court rules it to can go to state general fund. Moses noted that dealing with most crab-related violations is similar to speeding ticket procedures.

“The majority of citations are pre-paid by the violator, which is an admission of guilt,” she told Capital News Service. “Unless there is an error in the issuance of a citation or some other argument is made, all crab citations in which the violator did not admit guilt by paying the pre-set fine, are set for trial.”