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Virginia, Maryland Governors say crab population booming

Posted at 7:50 PM, Apr 19, 2012
and last updated 2012-04-19 20:11:00-04

RICHMOND Va. (WTVR) - It's been an issue that has watermen fired up, but Governors Bob McDonnell and Martin O'Malley say a plan to rebuild the blue crab population in the Chesapeake Bay is working.

Analysts say the results of winter dredging show that the crab population in the Bay has grown to nearly 3/4 of a billion crabs. They say that's the highest level since 1993, and a 66% increase over last year.

In a press release, Governor Bob McDonnell is quoted: “This shows exciting progress for the stock rebuilding program with our Maryland partners, and is great news for our crabbers and everyone who enjoys genuine Chesapeake Bay crab cakes and she-crab soup, which I recommend be paired with a nice Virginia white wine. I want to applaud all those who have worked to make this incredible progress possible, including my predecessor Governor Tim Kaine and his Administration, and Governor O’Malley and his Administration in Annapolis. This is a bipartisan success story."