[hookinfinger]

This is an article about crabbing from today's Virginian-Pilot.

Plan would pay watermen to give up crabbing | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

Dennis)

 

[Kevin Smith]

Crabbers Get Bail Out

Dennis,

Glad to hear they are going to get a bail out. Hope it helps the Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs recover and gives the watermen a chance to find other methods of income.

Thanks for posting this.

Kevin
Weekend Mistress
Coastal Conservation Association Virginia

 

[manfromva]

I agree with them learning how to aquaculture oysters and getting paid to remove old crab pots but as for a bailout or trying buy out crabbers not to work is not the thing to do. I'm still for a ban on catching and possessing of female crabs. I know the peeler and softcrab industry would suffer at first but it could be later repealed when the population rebounds. If it doesn't rebound then we have a bigger problem than we can probably fix.

 

[Bob Allen]

GM, Chrysler, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Crabbers ?, show me where to get in line?

I expect a bailout soon for retired dentists....a bill for which, our children will pay later !!

After Sen John Miller abolishes the Va Institute of Marine Science for doing all those wastefull scientific marine studies, VIMS will also need a bailout...for all those well eduated scientists that crabbers do not believe or trust...

Dr. Bob Allen, Hampton, Retired dentist

 

[chromeoverbrass]

You can't blame a crabber for accepting a hand out but I think there is a better way than for the general public to pay for the governments lack of oversight and early intervention. We all know that a crab doesn't chance around these parts! Build up the stock and introduce a limited re-entry program.

 

[Capt.Nick]

I never thought I'd see this in Va.How many years do you think it would take to bring back the Crab population if all crabbing was stopped in the Chesapeake Bay?

 

[Kevin Smith]

Crab Recovery

I have heard that female crabs can carry eggs up to 4 times a year, so some folks are saying the recovery will take 3-5 years, but that probably depends upon the definition of recovery.

Last spring is the first time I have ever noticed plenty of females spreading eggs in May on the Hampton Bar. I wonder if that is because they stopped the winter crab dredging early last year?

Could be a very good sign of things to come!!! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Kevin
Weekend Mistress

 

[Persistence2]

I'm with you Bob...there is no more fear of bad business decisions. Just wait and the gubment will bail you out.

Makes me kinda sick

 

[litehook1]

the local waterman never got *hit from the govt.unlike the farmers not to plant,
or low interest loans to get seeds, or equipment to work with,money to rent land, or new trucks to drive
around in.How many waterman u see riding around in new trucks?

 

[hookinfinger]

the local waterman never got *hit from the govt.unlike the farmers not to plant,
or low interest loans to get seeds, or equipment to work with,money to rent land, or new trucks to drive
around in.How many waterman u see riding around in new trucks?

You are right. Millions upon millions of our tax dollars go to people that have never been on a farm in their life.

Personally I am sick and tired of people slamming waterman.

Dennis

 

[litehook1]

Me to Dennis,seeing how hard they work for a days pay,if the wind isn't blowing
or boat needs work,or someone sitting behind a desk telling them when were and
how to fish.They know they need regulations,but give them a chance to get used to
them, befor they change them again and again and again.

 

[chromeoverbrass]

Me to Dennis,seeing how hard they work for a days pay,if the wind isn't blowing
or boat needs work,or someone sitting behind a desk telling them when were and
how to fish.They know they need regulations,but give them a chance to get used to
them, befor they change them again and again and again.

So what's the answer? Let the crab population dwindle to disentegration? Face it, picking crabs is a luxury. They are a resource that you can't just plant in the ground. Farmers getting paid not to plant is a joke but we are talking about losing something that is not so easy to plant.

I am an ex commercial guy who see's the damage we have done by overharvesting just about every species I can think of. You can't blame the waterman though. He has fished for what there is to catch. The government has failed us as it has in most every respect lately. It waits till neither the preditor nor the prey can survive.

Our ocean resources need better regulation but our government simply does not understand it and in no way shape or form can police it. Place some real waterman in our government and things would get done.

 

[litehook1]

Not according to Bob,they will abolish vims. lol.
I agree with putting responsible waterman on the board.
I wouldn't tell the pickers in the plants its a luxury,they might
stick ya with a claw.

 

[OceanViewKid]

If they want to reduce the number of crabbers, the license buyback is the way to do it. The watermen get fair market value for their license and 500 pots (or however many) come out of the water. That's not a giveaway.

 

[lite tackle]

wrong post

i love steamed blue crabs

 

[litehook1]

I second that Lite Tackle!