The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) voted to lift a ban on dredging for blue crabs in the winter in a 5-4 vote on Tuesday. The process, which involves towing a “half-inch nylon mesh liner” ...

This week, WTOP takes you from the bottom of the bay to the picnic table in our four-part series Claws and Effect: The murky future of the Chesapeake Bay blue crab. Listen on air and read it online.

The blue crab represents Maryland’s culture, economy, and long relationship with the Chesapeake Bay. Its population reflects the health of the bay and the effects of fishing and habitat management.

After a rebound last year from a rock bottom count the year before, the number of blue crabs estimated in the Chesapeake Bay held fairly steady, according to this year’s winter survey. For the survey, ...

When a public resource can be harvested, mined or otherwise taken for private profit, the state should seek a sustainable balance between allowing such private gain and protecting the resource itself.