We’re known for our blue crabs. And, don’t forget about our famous crab cakes.

But, that all could change as Maryland’s crabbing industry slowly spirals toward death.

This morning, The Associated Press is running an article in which they paint a pretty bleak picture about the future of the industry. Here’s a taste:

• The Chesapeake Bay now contains about one percent of the crabs it once did
• The crab stock is down 70 percent in the last 20 years
• “The way some see it, the crabbing business here isn’t just dying. It’s already dead.”

Fishermen blame overfishing and water pollution as the two biggest reasons for the drastic decline.

And Maryland is desperately trying to do something about it. They are now asking the federal government to declare a disaster declaration for our beloved blue crabs. It would free up about $20 million to subsidize crabbers until blue crabs come back.

But, will they ever return?

It would require a massive undertaking to clean up the Bay. It would mean enforcing recent changes in zoning laws to make sure pollution isn’t washing into the Bay from nearby businesses and homes.

Who is responsible?

The government is partly to blame for not recognizing that something needed to be done 20 or 30 years ago. Baltimoreans are partly to blame for our insatiable appetite for delicious, buttery crab with no concern for a sustainable future. Fishermen are partly to blame for not speaking louder about problems in the Bay. And, the local media are partly to blame for sending mixed messages regarding the state of the Chesapeake.

It was just a couple of years ago that The Sun reported fishermen saying:

“Demand is off, but it’s not a resource issue - the crabs are definitely here, our supply is good,” Brooks said. “We have crabs to pick, crabmeat to sell. We’re in pretty good shape.”

Just last month, crabbers were saying:

“New rules designed to reduce the catch of female crabs don’t take effect until fall … But two months into the season, the early success has many watermen convinced that the state Department of Natural Resources overreacted when it imposed the regulations.”

My question to you: is it too late for something to be done? I, like the rest of Baltimore, sure hope not.

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