THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, February 9, 1996               TAG: 9602090451
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A1   EDITION: FINAL  
TYPE: General Assembly 1996
SOURCE: BY BRIAN KELLEY AND DAVID M. POOLE, LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: RICHMOND                           LENGTH: Medium:   68 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: ***************************************************************** Legislation designed to protect the blue crab would limit watermen to five peeler crabs, per bushel, that are less than 3 inches in size. A story Friday on the bill, passed by the Virginia Senate, erroneously said the limit would apply to all crabs. Correction published , Saturday, February 10, 1996, p. A2 ***************************************************************** VA. SENATE PASSES STIFFER RULES ON TAKING BLUE CRABS BAY REGION LAWMAKERS OPPOSE CONSERVATION ACTION.\

The Virginia Senate voted Thursday to impose restrictions on blue crab harvests that go well beyond the limits established last month by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.

Proponents said dramatic conservation steps are needed in the face of a steady decline in the state's crab harvest over the last 30 years.

The bill's sponsor, Fairfax Sen. Warren Barry, said crabs are being overharvested and ``totally exploited'' by watermen in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

The Senate passed the measure, 25-15, despite almost universal opposition from lawmakers from the Bay region.

The measure, which now goes to the House of Delegates, reopens the emotional debate about how to protect the state's $88 million blue crab industry.

In late January, the VMRC approved a package of new protections that included limits on the number of crab pots and a ban on the taking of visibly pregnant females.

Barry said the VMRC rules do not go far enough and leave too many loopholes. Citing a decline in crab harvests between 1965 and 1993, Barry said stronger steps are needed to preserve future harvests.

However, a 1996 federal study found that such declines were not based on overfishing, but rather on natural cycles. In light of the study and, under pressure from watermen, commissioners voted 7-1 in favor of less stringent conservation measures.

Barry's bill would:

Freeze crab licenses to the level of November. VMRC stopped short of stopping new licenses.

Limit the number of pots per license to 300 on the Chesapeake Bay and 250 on tributaries, compared to VMRC limits of 500 and 300, respectively.

Limit the taking of crabs under 3 inches from tip to tip, compared to 3 1/2 inches under VMRC rules.

Barry said he was sponsoring the measure not as an environmentalist, but as a businessman and user of the Chesapeake Bay.

Opponents argued that the General Assembly should give the new VMRC regulations a chance to work.

``I don't think we ought to be trying to micromanage what VMRC does,'' said Sen. Richard Holland, D-Isle of Wight.

``I have yet to find one working waterman who is supportive of this legislation,'' added Williamsburg Sen. Thomas Norment, whose district includes the Eastern Shore.

Gov. George F. Allen has yet to take a position on the bill, according to a spokesman.

KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY CRABS REGULATION by CNB