The US state of Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) voted, 6-1, on Monday (Oct. 28), to maintain existing regulations for the struggling blue crab species, and not extend the harvest season or start the next season earlier, the nonprofit Chesapeake Bay Foundation announced this week.

The current blue crab season in Virginia is set to expire on Nov. 30, 2024, with the new season scheduled to begin on Mar. 17, 2025. The state was considering a proposal that would've pushed the ending of the current until sometime in December 2024 and allowed the start of the next season earlier in the month of March 2025.

VMRC said it received a substantial number of letters – 513 in total – mostly expressing opposition to the proposed extension.

The vote follows the VMRC's June decision to reintroduce winter dredging for blue crabs, which, as Undercurrent News reported, sparked concerns among officials in the neighboring state of Maryland. Specifically, Maryland's Department of Natural Resources feared that winter dredging could disproportionately harm female blue crabs, which are vital for reproduction.

Recent assessments of the blue crab population in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries reveal continued low numbers of both adult males and females. VMRC said Monday (Oct. 28) that the estimated total crab population stands at 317 million, a slight decline from last year's 323m but an improvement from the record low of 227m observed in 2022.

The adult female crab population has decreased to 133m, down from 152m last year, significantly below the target of 215m needed for a healthy crab population and sustainable harvesting in the Chesapeake Bay.

Data further showed that juvenile crab numbers have remained below average for the fifth year. Male crab populations also fell from 55m in 2023 to 46m in 2024 despite the implementation of harvest limits last year.