The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is holding a series of Open Houses to address the issue of unused blue crab licenses. 

In December 2008, DNR proposed regulations for the blue crab fishery that included a proposal to freeze all Limited Crab Harvester (LCC) commercial licenses that had not reported any crab harvest from 2004 to 2008. During the public discussion of this proposal, it became clear that a more extensive citizen participation process was needed. The Department withdrew the LCC license component from this year’s regulatory package.
 
“The Department remains committed to addressing the issue of unused crab licenses,” said Tom O’Connell, Director of DNR Fisheries Services. “We are holding this series of open houses to provide information that outlines the problems associated with unused crab licenses, provide responses to the concerns that have been raised by the public comment period and ask the public to provide constructive suggestions for short and long term solutions.”
 
Open houses are scheduled for:
 
April 16, 2009 – 1:00pm to 8:00pm
Earleigh Heights Fire Hall
161 Ritchie Highway
Severna Park, MD   21146
 
April 20, 2009 – 1:00pm to 8:00p
Black Diamond Lodge
310 N. Fruitland Blvd. (next to Adam’s Ribs)
Fruitland, MD   21826
 
April 21, 2009 – 1:00pm to 8:00p
Easton Armory
7111 Ocean Gateway
Easton, MD   21601
 
The Open Houses are designed as educational exhibits that the public can attend at any time during the opening hours and stay as long as they wish. DNR Staff will be onhand to discuss the potential problems associated with unused crab licenses and listen to constructive input about possible solutions. For more information, call the Blue Crab Hotline at (410) 260-8286