Media Advisory: NRP Launches "Don't Get Pinched" Crabbing Enforcement Campaign

What: Briefing on conservation law enforcement efforts to aggressively target crabbing violations

Who:
Natural Resources Police Col. George F. Johnson IV
Natural Resources Police Major Jerry Kirkwood
DNR Fisheries Deputy Director Lynn Fegley
DNR Blue Crab Program Chief Brenda Davis

When: Wednesday, July 30, 11 a.m.

Where:
Jonas Green Park
1997 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd., Annapolis

Why: With Chesapeake Bay and coastal bays water temperatures climbing, and crabbing activities on the rise, Maryland Natural Resources Police officers are cracking down on those who violate State crab regulations.

The 2014 Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey results showed the abundance of spawning-age females at 69 million ─ just below the minimum safe level of 70 million. The density of harvestable crabs, male crabs greater than 5 inches and females that could potentially spawn declined in 2014.

NRP's "Don't Get Pinched" campaign focuses on minimum sizes, possession limits, harvest hours and crab pot regulations.

Contact: Candy Thomson at 410-279-3916 or candus.thomson@maryland.gov

Directions: From U.S. 50, take Route 450 toward the Naval Academy. At the traffic light at the base of the Naval Academy Bridge, make a left onto Route 648 (Baltimore & Annapolis Boulevard) then an immediate right into Jonas Green Park.