RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia may soon take a major step toward protecting diamondback terrapins by requiring bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) on blue crab pots set in near-shore waters, following a precedent long set by Maryland.
A petition currently under review by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) seeks to reduce the number of terrapins trapped and drowned in both active and abandoned crab pots. The proposed change would apply to all licensed commercial and recreational blue crab pots set within 150 yards of shore, including rivers, creeks, coves, manmade lagoons and other shallow coastal habitats.
The public hearing is scheduled for June 24, with a final decision to follow after public review and agency deliberation.
Petition Seeks Low-Cost Change With Big Impact
The petition was formally submitted on Feb. 18, 2025, by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Virginia Herpetological Society, Wild Virginia and Dr. Willem Roosenburg, a nationally recognized biologist for his work in diamondback terrapin ecology.
The request calls on the state to adopt or amend regulations to mandate BRDs — rigid rectangular devices fitted to the entry funnels of crab pots — to block turtles while still allowing crabs to enter. The proposed device dimensions are 4.5 cm by 12 cm, a standard proven effective in peer-reviewed studies.
To give the crabbing industry time to adjust, the petition suggests a three-year grace period before enforcement begins.
“To provide the fishery reasonable time to retrofit crab pots, Petitioners suggest a three-year grace period from the date of adoption or amendment of the regulation.” — Petition submitted Feb. 18, 2025
Maryland Has Required BRDs Since 1999
Maryland has had similar rules in place since 1999. Under COMAR 08.02.03.07, all recreational crab pots used by waterfront property owners must include bycatch reduction devices — referred to in Maryland as Turtle Reduction Devices (TRDs) — to prevent diamondback terrapins from entering and drowning in the traps.
A 2016 Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) survey found that fewer than half of recreational pots inspected were outfitted with the required TRDs, highlighting the continued need for education and enforcement.
Cited in the Virginia petition, a Chesapeake Bay field study by Rook et al. (2010) found a 95.7 percent reduction in terrapin captures when BRDs were used in crab pots.
Public Comment and Next Steps
The Virginia Regulatory Town Hall received 459 public comments during the official comment period, which ran from March 10 to March 31, 2025. The VMRC has since confirmed the proposal will advance to a public hearing on June 24, with the agency’s decision pending.
Terrapins in Peril
Diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) live in brackish estuaries and salt marshes along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, including the Chesapeake Bay.
According to the Center for Biological Diversity, an estimated 60,000 to 80,000 diamondback terrapins drown in crab traps each year across the species’ range. Lured into underwater pots by bait, the turtles are unable to surface for air and often die before being discovered. These unintended drownings contribute significantly to population declines, prompting growing support for federal protections under the Endangered Species Act.
States including New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland and Florida have adopted requirements for terrapin excluder devices — referred to as TRDs, TEDs or BRDs depending on the state — for use in recreational or near-shore commercial crab pots.
More information: Virginia Marine Resources Commission – Terrapin Page
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