Soft-shell Crab Raid

[Doug Coats]

Raid On Maryland Seafood Companies
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
WBAL Radio and The Associated Press


Federal investigators raided three Crisfield seafood processing companies earlier this month as part of a probe related to undersized soft-shell crabs.

A U-S Fish and Wildlife Service spokeswoman says there was evidence that resources were crossing the border between Maryland and Virginia and watermen and processors were involved.

In Maryland, soft crabs must be at least four inches wide, but in Virginia, the minimum allowable width is three and a half inches.

Maryland Natural Resources Police and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission joined federal authorities in a September 7th raid at the Crisfield processing plants.

She says during the raids, officials looked for undersized crabs at John T-Handy And Company, N-R Dryden And Company and two locations of MeTompkin Bay Oyster Company.

[SteveL]

Doug,

Thanks for the post. When in Chrisfield I always buy softies from Marlene's bait and tackle, they are part of Dryden. I have been shoping there for many years, Marlene and her mom are great folks.

Given that many crabbers move between VA and MD in that area I can see how this issue could be a concern...

[Islander 2]

According to the MD DNR website, Maryland min. size for soft crabs is 31/2'.

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries...ecregchrt.html

[Capt.Nick]

And they call them mediums.