THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE".

COMING UP, FEWER YOUNG CRABS IN THE BAY.

THEIR BIG HE FELT THREAT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU.

AND PREPROFESSIONAL SOCCER DRAWING BIG CROWDS.

FIRST, STATE OFFICIALS ARE BRACING FOR MEDICAID CUTS COMING FROM WASHINGTON.

ACCORDING TO KFF FORMERLY THE KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION, A THIRD OF THE STATE BUDGET GOES TO MEDICAID WITH 64% COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

MEDICAID PAYS FOR 42% OF BIRTHS IN MARYLAND AND 64% OF NURSING HOME PATIENTS.

TONIGHT WE UNRAVEL SOME OF THE COMPLEXITIES OF MEDICAID AND HOW BIG A CHALLENGE THIS WILL BE FOR THE STATE.

[♪♪] OUR NEWSMAKER IS GERARD ANDERSON OF THE JOHNS HOPKINS BLOOMBERG SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

Dr. ANDERSON THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TODAY.

>> Jeff: LET'S SPEND A FEW MINUTES ON THE COMPLEXITIES OF MEDICAID WHICH IS NOT MEDICARE.

WHO QUALIFIES FOR MEDICAID?

>> SO, THERE IS A NUMBER OF WAYS THAT YOU QUALIFY.

IF YOU ARE UNDER 65 IT'S BASICALLY YOUR INCOME.

AND SO CHILDREN IT'S 250% OF POVERTY LEVEL FOR ADULTS THAT DON'T HAVE CHILDREN IT'S 133% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.

SO A VARIETY OF PEOPLE BUT IN MARYLAND THERE'S 1.5 MILLION MARYLANDERS THAT ARE ON MEDICAID TODAY.

THE OTHER WAY YOU QUALIFY AND THESE ARE THE MORE EXPENSIVE PEOPLE THAT NEED NURSING HOME CARE OR HOME HEALTHCARE.

THEY ARE A SMALLER PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION.

BUT A MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION.

THEY COST ABOUT 65,000 DOLLARS A YEAR.

>> Jeff: OUTSIDE OF NURSING HOMES, HOW IS CARE PROVIDED?

IS IT STANDARD GO TO WHATEVER DOCTOR YOU WANT OR MANAGED CARE HMO COMPONENT?

>> SO, FOR THE UNDER 65 POPULATION, MOST OF THE PEOPLE ARE IN A MANAGED CARE PLAN.

BUT IF YOU ARE TERRIBLY SICK, YOU ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE A MANAGED CARE PLAN IT WILL BE A FEE FOR SERVICE GO TO ANY DOCTOR THAT WILL TAKE YOU ANY HOSPITAL THAT WILL TAKE YOU.

FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN NURSING HOMES, THEY ARE PAYING THE NURSING HOME DIRECTLY.

>> Jeff: NOW, WHAT CHANGED UNDER OBAMACARE?

THE ACROCANTHOSAURUS?

>> -- AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

>> THERE WERE A NUMBER OF EXTRA PEOPLE THAT GOT INTO THE LIST THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND 40 OTHER STATES DECIDED TO EXPAND COVERAGE TO MORE PEOPLE.

AND THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE 133% OR LESS OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE.

SO SOMEBODY WHO IS A SINGLE PERSON IS ABOUT $21,000.

IF YOU ARE A SINGLE PERSON AND YOU MAKE LESS THAN $25,000, YOU NOW QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID.

>> Jeff: AND THE FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT, THE FEDERAL SHARE OF THE COST OF THIS, IS DIFFERENT FOR THE PEOPLE IN THAT NEWER GROUP?

>> YES.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PAYS 90% OF THE COST OVERALL.

IT IS A MUCH LOWER PERCENTAGE 64% FOR EVERYBODY ELSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PAYS.

>> Jeff: AND MEDICAID CHANGED AS WELL DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT CHANGED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS?

>> WHAT'S CHANGING IS THE FACT THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE ENROLLING.

AND SO WE'RE EXPANDING MEDICAID COVERAGE TO MORE AND MORE PEOPLE OVER TIME.

SO AS I SAID, ABOUT 1.5 MILLION ENROLLEES BEFORE THE PANDEMIC IT WAS CLOSER TO ONE MILLION ENROLLEES.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS GOING TO CHANGE UNDER THE NEW TRUMP REPUBLICAN CONGRESS RECONCILIATION BILL?

>> THE FIRST THING TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN UNTIL AFTER THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN MANY CASES OR ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

SO THE PEOPLE LISTENING TODAY SHOULD NOT BE CONCERNED THAT THEY ARE GOING TO LOSE IT TOMORROW.

IT WAS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO DO THIS TO GIVE THE STATES OPPORTUNITIES TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THINGS.

BUT THE MAIN GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING, BUT ARE NOT -- HAVE TO VERIFY THAT THEY ARE WORKING.

IT IS A REQUIREMENT THAT YOU HAVE TO WORK 80 HOURS A MONTH.

OR VOLUNTEER OR DO SOMETHING THAT'S QUALIFIES FOR YOU.

IN THE PAST THAT WASN'T AN EXLICIT REQUIREMENT.

NOW IT IS AN EXPLICIT REQUIREMENT THAT YOU ACTUALLY ARE DOING SOME KIND OF WORK OR VOLUNTEER WORK.

>> Jeff: AND NOW MEANS NOT TODAY BUT AFTER THE NEXT ELECTION.

SOME OF THIS KICKS IN AFTER THE COMING MIDTERM ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT.

THE WORK REQUIREMENT IS IN JANUARY, 2027.

IT STARTS.

AND SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF IN THE BIG SAVINGS DON'T REALLY START UNTIL 2028.

>> Jeff: IF PEOPLE GET KICKED OFF OF THIS, WOULDN'T THEY JUST GO TO AN OBAMACARE PLAN AND FOR PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOMES THAT IS WELL SUBSIDIZED THOUGH THAT IS CHANGING AS WELL?

>> RIGHT.

THERETHERE'S LESS SUBSIDIES THAN BEFORE.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE MAKING $25,000 A YEAR, YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF NEEDS HEALTHCARE IS CLEARLY ONE OF THEM, BUT IF THE OBAMACARE SYSTEM COSTS YOU A THOUSAND DOLLARS, THAT'S A THOUSAND TRARS THAT YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE.

SO WITH THE EXPECTATION IS THAT WHEN 12 MILLION PEOPLE WILL LOSE THEIR COVERAGE NATIONALLY, A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOSE MEDICAID COVERAGE AND CANNOT AFFORD PRIVATE INSURANCE EVEN WITH THE LARGE SUBSIDIES IN THE ACA THEY STILL DON'T HAVE THAT THOUSAND DOLLARS TO PAY FOR IT.

>> Jeff: SO THE EXPECTATION IS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOSE THEIR MEDICAID COVERAGE NOT BECAUSE THE THRESHOLDS YOU TALKED ABOUT WITH SOME PERCENTAGE OF THE POVERTY INCOME LEVEL, THAT'S NOT CHANGING.

BUT THEY ARE GOING TO BE A LOT MORE HOOPS TO JUMP THROUGH?

>> EVERY MONTH, YOU WILL HAVE TO FILL OUT A FORM THAT SAYS I'VE WORKED 80 HOURS OR I DID VOLUNTEER WORK 80 HOURS AND WE'VE TRIED THAT.

WE'VE TRIED THAT IN GEORGIA.

AND WE DIDN'T SAVE ANY MONEY BUT IT COSTS MONEY BECAUSE SOMEBODY HAS TO PROCESS EVERY MONTH THE INFORMATION AND HAS TO CHECK THAT YOU IN FACT WERE WORKING OR WERE VOLUNTEERING AND THAT AA LOT OF BUREAUCRACY TIME SPENT.

AND SOMEBODY HAS TO PAY FOR THAT.

THE STATE IS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR AN ADDITIONAL BUREAUCRACY.

>> Jeff: THE STATE FUNCTION IN MEDICAID PLANS IS, I GUESS, DIFFERENT FROM MEDICARE, WHICH IS MOSTLY SENIOR CITIZENS.

THERE WAS A PIECE IN THE LAST WEEK OR TWO FROM PEW RESEARCH THAT LISTED ALL THE STATES COMPARED THE MOST RECENT FISCAL YEAR SPENDING ON MEDICAID TO THE PREVIOUS TREND OVER A DECADE OR MORE.

AND I BRING IT UP BECAUSE MARYLAND WAS NEAR THE TOP OF THAT LIST.

RIGHT BEHIND CONNECTICUT, I THINK, IF TERMS OF STATES THAT HAVE EXPANDED MEDICAID.

IS THAT A TREND YOU'VE SEEN?

>> WE'VE SEEN THAT IN MARYLAND AND WE SEE THIS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

BECAUSE IF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE JOBS, IF PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY HEALTH INSURANCE, THEY STILL NEED CARE, THEY GO TO HOSPITALS, THEY GO TO PHYSICIANS, AND THEY RACK UP FAIRLY HIGH EXPENDITURES AND SOMEBODY HAS TO PAY FOR THAT.

AND WHAT TRADITIONALLY HAS BEEN PRIVATE INSURANCE PAYS TWO-AND-A-HALF TIMES MORE THAN MEDICARE DOES AND THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE PICKING UP THE COST OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE.

AND THAT'S NOT TRUE IN MARYLAND, BECAUSE OF THE RATES THE NEW SYSTEM WE HAVE IN MARYLAND.

BUT IN EVERY OTHER STATE, THE GROUP THAT'S GOING TO GET HIT THE MOST ARE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PRIVATE INSURANCE, BECAUSE THE HOSPITALS, THE PHYSICIANS HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SURVIVE AND THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET SOMEBODY TO PAY FOR THE STUFF THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNINSURED ARE NOT PAYING.

>> Jeff: NOW, WHAT IS THIS THING ABOUT A PROVIDER TAX?

>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN MARYLAND PAYS 64% OF THE COST.

SO IF YOU TAX HOSPITALS IN MARYLAND OR ANY OTHER STATE, AND THE HOSPITALS DONATE MONEY TO THE MEDICAID PROGRAM, AND THEN THE STATE GETS 64% OF THAT BACK.

SO THEY ACTUALLY EARN A PROFIT THROUGH A TAX ON PROVIDERS.

AND THE PROVIDERS GET THE MONEY BACK AS WELL.

THE PROVIDERS REALLY DON'T PAY ANYTHING AND IT IS A WAY TO GET MORE MATCHING FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND SO THEY'VE PUT A LIMIT ON HOW MUCH IT WILL BE, BUT IT'S STILL A HUGE NUMBER OF DOLLARS TRYING TO KEEP THE HOSPITALS AFLOAT.

>> Jeff: IF YOU ADD UP ALL OF THE PEOPLE COVERED BY MEDICAID, MEDICARE, PEOPLE WORKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT GETTING BENEFITS, PEOPLE WITH V.A.

COVERAGE, IT'S GOT TO BE ABOUT HALF THE COUNTRY IS ALREADY GETTING SOME SORT OF GOVERNMENT HEALTHCARE PLAN.

ARE WE JUST MOVING REALLY SLOWLY TO A EUROPEAN KIND OF SINGLE PAYER SYSTEM?

>> I DON'T THINK WE ARE.

BUT WE COULD.

SO YOUR NUMBERS ARE BASICALLY CORRECT.

THAT IT'S ABOUT HALF MEDICARE, MEDICAID, V.A., KINDS OF PROGRAMS.

AND HALF PRIVATE INSURANCE.

IT IS A LITTLE BIT MORE PRIVATE INSURANCE.

BUT BASICALLY 50/50.

THE PROBLEM IS, THAT IF YOU WANTED TO TAKE THE MONEY AWAY FROM THE PRIVATE INSURANCE AND PUT IT IN THE GOVERNMENT, THAT'S ABOUT A 1.2 TRILLION DOLLAR TAX INCREASE.

AND I DON'T SEE ANY POLITICIAN OFFERING A 1.2 TRILLION DOLLAR TAX INCREASE.

PROBABLY BE LESS EXPENSIVE IN HEALTHCARE, BUT IT WOULD MEAN THAT WE WOULD BE PAYING HIGHER TAXES.

SO IT'S GOOD POLICY IN TERMS OF BEING MORE EFFICIENT TO HAVE THE GOVERNMENT RUN IT, BUT IT'S NOT GOOD POLITICS TO HAVE A VERY LARGE TAX INCREASE.

>> Jeff: OUR THANKS TO Dr. ANDERSON.

NOW, IF YOU'VE ENJOYED STEAMED CRABS THIS SUMMER YOU KNOW IT WAS NO BARGAIN.

PRICES ARE UP BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF CRABS IN THE BAY IS DOWN.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE CRAB FISHERY?

WE MET UP WITH MANDY BROMILOW BLUE CRAB PROGRAM MANAGER AT THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

MANDY, THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING WITH US.

LET'S SART WITH YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU WERE IN MARYLAND, YOU WERE LOOKING AT JUVENILE CRABS AND THEIR PREDATORS WHEN THEY ARE DOWN IN THE BAY GRASSES.

WHAT DID YOU FIND?

>> YEAH.

THIS IS ACTUALLY MY MASTER THESIS WORK I WAS DOING IN 2014, 2017.

AND BASICALLY I WAS LOOKING AT WHAT WAS EATING JUVENILE BLUE CRABS AND ALSO HOW DOES SEA GRASS ACT AS A REFUGE FOR BLUE CRABS.

AND I WAS TETHERING THE JUVENILES WHICH MEANS, I WAS GLUEING THEM TO FISHING LINE AND STAKING THEM OUT IN GRASS BEDS IN VARIOUS DENSITY AND LOOKING AT RATES.

HOW MANY ARE SURVIVING AND I WAS ALSO USING A GO PRO AND FILMING MY CRAB THAT WAS OUT IN THE SEA GRASS BED TO SEE WHAT WAS COMING OUT AND EATING THEM.

WE SAW BIRD FISH EATING JUVENILE BLUE CRABS AND NORTHERN PUFFERS.

MOST OFTEN ADULT BLUE CRABS CANNIBALIZING ON THE JUVENILES IN THE GRASS BEDS THAT WAS THE BIGGEST PREDATOR.

AND WE FOUND, TOO, YOU GET HIGHER RATES OF SURVIVAL IN DENSER SEA GRASS BECAUSE THEY WILL USE THE SPACES AS A REFUGE FROM PREDATORS.

>> Jeff: IF YOU ARE A JUVENILE CRAB, THE WORLD IS AGAINST YOU.

EVERYBODY INCLUDING YOUR FELLOW CRABS.

>> LITERALLY EVERYBODY.

>> DOES BEING A CRUSTATION HELP?

I THOUGHT LIKE THE SHELL WHEN THEY ARE NOT MOULTING?

>> WE HAVE THIS THING CALLED A SIZE REFUGE ONCE THEY GET TO A LARGER SIZE PREDATORS HAVE A GAPE LIMITATION THEY CANNOT OPEN THEIR MOUTH AS WIDE AND YOUR SHELL GIVES THEM PROTECTION.

IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT A BLUE CATFISH WHICH CAN GET MASSIVE AND HAS A CRAZY BITE, YOU'RE NOT REALLY PROTECTED BY ANYTHING AT THAT POINT.

BUT USUALLY ONCE CRABS REACH A CERTAIN SIZE THEY OUTGROW MOST SPECIES.

>> Jeff: AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CHANGED IN THE BAY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS IS THE ARRIVAL OF THE BLUE CATFISH.

NONNATIVE SPECIES HERE.

AND THEY EAT A LOT AND THEY EAT A LOT OF CRABS.

>> YEAH.

SO WE DID SEE THIS SPREAD OF INVASIVE BLUE CATFISH IN 2018, 2019 WE HAD A WET SUMMER WHICH MEANS SALINITY WAS PUSHED DOWN AND WE SAW BLUE CATFISH MOVING INTO AREAS THEY WERE NOT PREVIOUSLY BECAUSE THEY ARE LIMITED BY THE SALINITY.

SO WHEN THEY EXPANDED, WE HAD ALL THESE CONCERNS ABOUT THEM POTENTIALLY EATING MORE BLUE CRABS BECAUSE THEY ARE MOVING INTO OTHER AREAS.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN STUDIES THAT SHOWN THAT BLUE CATFISH EAT A TON OF JUVENILE BLUE CRABS.

THERE WAS A STUDY IN THE JAMES RIVER WITH HUGE DENSITIES OF BLUE CATFISH.

AND THEY WERE EATING THEY ESTIMATED MILLIONS OF BLUE CRABS EATEN IN THIS PORTION OF THE JAMES RIVER.

THE PROBLEM IS WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD POPULATION ESTIMATE FOR BLUE CATFISH THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BAY BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEIR INVASION HAPPENED THEY HAVE STARTED OUT IN THREE MAIN TRIBUTARIES AND NOW THEY'VE SPREAD.

>> Jeff: MUST HAVE BEEN NORTHERN BAY IF THEY DON'T LIKE THE SALINITY.

>> AND UPPER TRIBUTARIES OF VIRGINIA TRIBUTARIES TOO, THEY HAVE SPREAD.

AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY BLUE CATFISH ARE IN THESE SORT OF NEWER SPACES THAT THEY'VE INHABITED BASICALLY.

SO WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD ESTIMATE OF POPULATION WIDE ABUNDANCE AND THE POPULATION LEVEL EFFECTS.

>> Jeff: IF YOU ARE FISHING APPARENTLY THEY ARE JUMPING IN THE BOAT THERE ARE SO MANY.

>> I HAVE HE ABEEN ON SURVEYS WHERE YOU ARE CATCHING TONS OF JUVENILES IT'S INCREDIBLE HOW MANY ARE OUT THERE.

>> Jeff: TELL US ABOUT THE DREDGE SURVEY FOR CRABS AND THE NUMBERS WEREN'T GOOD.

HOW IS THAT DONE?

AND WHY IS IT A WINTER THING?

>> SO IT IS A WINTER DREDGE SURVEY BECAUSE IN THE WINTER WHEN THE CRABS ARE GROWING IN THE SEDIMENT THEY ARE I AM MOBILE AND IT MAKES IT EASIER.

THAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT SAMPLING FISH POPULATIONS THEY CAN MOVE.

YOU HAVE ISSUES ARE WE RESAMPLING THE SAME FISH.

YOU KNOW THEY ARE THERE AND TOSSING THEM BACK ONCE YOU COUNT THEM.

WE'RE GOING OUT VIRGINIA DOES A PORTION AND MARYLAND DOES A PORTION.

AND WE COME TOGETHER AND COMBINE OUR RESULTS FOR BAY WIDE LAKE ABUNDANCE BUT WE ARE GOING OUT WITH DREDGE, LIKE A GIANT HEAVY RAKE THAT WE DRAG ALONG FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF MINUTES AT A CERTAIN SPEED AND THEN WE PULL UP ALL THE CRABS WE COLLECT FROM THE DREDGE.

WE MEASURE THEM, COUNT THEM, SEX THEM DETERMINE IF THEY ARE MATURE, IMMATURE THAT KIND OF THING AND THAT GIVES US THESE DATA ABOUT ASPECTS OF THE POPULATION HOW MANY MALES, HOW MANY FEMALES WHAT SIZES ARE WE LOOKING AT.

AND WE SAMPLE BAY WIDE 1500 SITES THAT ARE RANDOMLY SELECTED THROUGHOUT THE BAY.

SO WE'RE GETTING A VERY REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF WHAT THE POPULATION LOOKS LIKE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BAY.

>> Jeff: AND ALL I REMEMBER FROM THE REPORT WAS THE HEADLINE WHICH WAS THAT THE NUMBERS WERE DOWN.

>> YEAH.

NUMBERS ARE DOWN.

>> Jeff: HOW DOES THAT FIT HISTORICALLY?

>> YEAH, SO, WELL WE'VE HAD A LOW PERIOD OF JUVENILE BLUE CRAB ABUNDANCE LIKE THROUGHOUT THE 90s AND EARLY 2000'S.

AND THEN IT BECAME A FEDERALLY CLAIMED DISASTER FISHERY DISASTER IN 2008.

AND SO WE IMPLEMENTED ALL THE RESTRICTIONS ON HARVEST AND PROTECTING FEMALES SO THE POPULATION CAN BOUNCE BACK THROUGH REPRODUCTION.

AND THE POPULATION SEEMED TO RESPOND REALLY WELL TO THAT.

AT LEAST INITIALLY.

THINGS WERE GOING WELL.

THERE'S STILL A LOT OF NATURAL VARIATION IN THE POPULATION AND THERE'S ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS THAT PLAY A ROLE.

IT'S BEEN DOING BETTER IT IS BETTER THAN IT WAS.

BUT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WE'VE BEEN SEEING DECLINES IN ABUNDANCE.

NOT JUST OF THE ADULTS BUT THE JUVENILES LIKE EVERY COMPONENT HAS BEEN ON THE DECLINE.

AND IT'S SIMILAR THIS YEAR.

WE'VE SEEN ANOTHER SIMILAR DECLINE.

IT'S NOT QUITE THE LOWEST WE'VE SEEN BUT IT'S UP THERE WITH BEING LOWEST NUMBERS WE'VE SEEN.

BUT IT'S STILL WE HAVE WE MANAGE THE FISHERY BASED ON THE MANAGEMENT REFERENCE POINTS.

AND SO WE HAVE A CERTAIN THRESHOLD WHERE IF ADULT FEMALE ABUNDANCE FALLS BELOW THIS THRESHOLD OR MINIMUM SAFE LEVEL IS WHEN WE NEED TO BE CONCERNED.

WE HAVEN'T HIT THAT POINT.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE MAINTAINING THE REGULATIONS WE ARE AND HAVE BEEN.

>> Jeff: NO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON RECREATIONAL CRABBERS OR COMMERCIAL CRABBERS.

THERE'S THAT LONG RUNNING DEBATE BETWEEN MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA ABOUT THIS VIRGINIA WINTER HARVEST.

WHICH I BELIEVE IS OFF AT THE MOMENT.

MARYLAND'S PERSPECTIVE IS THEY ARE GOING AFTER FEMALES, RIGHT, AND THAT'S PROBLEMATIC.

>> YEAH.

YEAH, THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAD THIS SORT OF COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT MORE OR LESS WITH VIRGINIA AND COMMISSION THAT WE PROTECT THE FEMALES BECAUSE THEY ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR ALLOWING THE POPULATION TO BOUNCE BACK, ALLOWING MORE JUVENILES TO COME BACK INTO THE POPULATION.

SO WITH THE WINTER DREDGE FISHERY, IT'S PRETTY EXCLUSIVELY TARGETING FEMALES THAT ARE BROAD IN THE SENT.

THEY ARE TAKING AWAY THE FEMALES WE ARE MAINTAINING AND ALLOWING THEM TO SPAWN.

TWO, WHEN YOU ARE DREDGING IT'S LIKE A GIANT RAKE YOU ARE DRAGGING ON THE BOTTOM AND YOU CAN GET A LOT OF WHAT IS CALLED INCIDENTAL MORTALITY FROM THAT.

IT'S YOU ARE CRUSHING SOME CRABS IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT.

AND SO IT'S LIKE IS IT WORTH WHATEVER CRABS YOU ARE GETTING FOR THOSE THAT YOU ARE MAYBE SACRIFICING IN THAT DREDGE FISHERY.

AND THERE'S ALSO CONCERNS IS IT WORTH IT IF THESE ARE THE SANDY CRABS THAT ARE BORROWED UNDER ARE THEY GOOD QUALITY TO SELL AND IS IT WORTH IT IN THE MARKET.

>> Jeff: THE GOOD NEWS IN ALL THIS, MAYBE AND I APOLOGIZE IF THIS IS OUTDATED THE LAST STUDY I REPORTED ON IN TERMS OF THE BAY GRASSES HIDING YOUR GO PRO AND WATCHING THE JUVENILE CRABS IS THAT THE GRASSES IS WATER QUALITY IMPROVED AND THE GRASSES ARE COMING BACK.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, THAT'S SORT OF UP AND DOWN WITH THAT AS WELL.

BECAUSE WATER QUALITY HAS IMPROVED A LOT SINCE THE 70s.

IN GENERAL THERE IS AN INCREASING TREND IN THAT.

BUT IT'S STILL CAN VARY YEAR TO YEAR BECAUSE NOW WE ALSO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND WHEN WATER TEMPERATURES INCREASE, YOU CAN SEABROOK GRASS DIE OFF AS WELL.

WE STILL HAVE POLLUTION COMING IN THAT IS STILL AN ISSUE WITH RUNOFF AND ALL THAT.

AND WE ARE NOW DEALING WITH WARMER WATER TEMPERATURES.

SO THAT AFFECTS THE MAIN BAY GRASS WE THINK OF IN THE MARINA.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER SPECIES THAT THRIVE IN DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES.

WE MIGHT SEE MORE SOUTHERN SPECIES COMING INTO THE BAY WITH THE INCREASING TEMPERATURES.

>> Jeff: YOU MENTIONED THE LIFESPAN OF A BLUE CRAB IS SHORT I INFER I SHOULD NOT BE BADLY IF I RECENTLY PURCHASED SOME AND CRACKED THEM AND MADE THEM INTO GOOD CRAB CAKES BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT GOING TO LAST LONG ANYWAY.

>> SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING TO EAT THEM IF YOU WEREN'T.

>> Jeff: MANDY BROMILOW APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Jeff: SPEAKING OF CRABS THE ANNAPOLIS BLUES ARE A START-UP SOCCER TEAM AS SUE COPPIN TELL US THE CRABS ARE WINNING ON THE PITCH AND IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> THE ANNAPOLIS BLUES ARE JUST IN THEIR THIRD YEAR AS A TEAM BUT THE FANS ARE CONTINUING TO SET ATTENDANCE RECORDS AS SUPPORT CONTINUES TO GROW.

>> LAST YEAR OUR GOAL FOR THE OPENING MATCH WAS LET'S GET TO 10,000.

LET'S CALL IT 10,000 CRABS IN THE HOUSE.

THIS YEAR WE SAID LET'S GO FOR 12 AND WE DID IT AND WE BEAT THE 12.

WE CONTINUE TO DO STUFF LIKE THAT AND CONTINUE TO HAVE CROWDS.

>> THE MEN'S TEAM'S SUCCESS IN THE NATIONAL PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE RESULTED IN THEIR MOVING UP THIS YEAR TO TOUGHER COMPETITION IN THE NONPROFESSIONAL TIER OF THE UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE.

>> THEY ARE SUMMER LEAGUES FOR COLLEGE PLAYERS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO GET MINUTES TO STILL GET TRAINING, BE PREPARED FOR THEIR COLLEGE SEASON.

AND COACHES HAVE TO TREAT THEM AS SUCH.

THERE HAS TO BE ROTATION OF PLAYERS.

YOU CAN'T OVERWORK THEM BECAUSE IT IS A BALANCE BETWEEN THE COACHING STAFF HERE AND THE COACHES AT A COLLEGE.

>> ONE OF THE PLAYERS IS GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY'S MADDIE WHO MAKES THE DRIVE FROM NORTHERN VIRGINIA TO ANNAPOLIS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK IN ORDER TO BE PART OF THE TEAM.

>> JUST THE CHANCE TO PLAY AT A HIGH LEVEL.

KEEP MY FITNESS HIGH TO GO BACK INTO THE COLLEGE SEASON IT IS A QUICK TURN AROUND YOU GO BACK IN AUGUST AND HAVE TWO WEEKS OF PRESEASON AND START OUR COMPETITIVE SEASON.

BEING ABLE TO PLAY AT A HIGH LEVEL WITH GOOD COMPETITION AND GOOD TEAMMATES IS A LUCKY OPPORTUNITY THAT I HAVE.

>> AND THIS SEASON THE BLUES ADDED A WOMEN'S TEAM UNDEFEATED IN ITS INAUGURAL YEAR, THE COACH ASHLEY KENNEDY.

>> BEING ANNAPOLIS AND BEING THAT IT IS A VERY STRONG FAN BASE IT'S DEFINITELY PUT NOT ONLY THE PLAYERS ON THE MAP BUT US AS A TEAM ON THE MAP.

>> TEAM COCAPTAIN SARAH MARTIN PLAYED FOR KENNEDY IN HIGH SCHOOL AND SAYS SHE NEVER EXPECTED TO BE ABLE TO PLAY FOR AN ANNAPOLIS BASED TEAM.

>> IT'S AWESOME TO SEE THE IMPACT IT'S HAD ON THE COMMUNITY AND THE YOUTH.

THERE'S KIDS THAT I'VE COACHED IN THE PAST OR PLAYED WITH THAT HAVE COME OUT TO WATCH AND IT'S EXCITING.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE YOUNG FANS?

>> I WOULD SAY THEY ARE A GOOD TEAM, THEY WORK TOGETHER AND YEAH, THEY'RE GOOD.

>> MY FAVORITE PLAY IS LIKE THE SIGNING BECAUSE LIKE THE SIGNS BECAUSE THEY ARE REALLY FUN AND LIKE, LIKE IT'S JUST FUN TO DO THEM.

AND THEY'RE A GOOD TEAM.

>> AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS BEHIND THE TEAM AS WELL.

>> THEY'VE BEEN GREAT SUPPORTERS OF CHARITIES.

ALL THE BUSINESSES, TOO, THE PLAYERS WILL SHOW UP AT SCHOOLS AND GET KIDS EXCITED IN OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE MALL.

PARTNERED WITH DIFFERENT BUSINESSES FOR YOUR PICK UP, YOUR SCARF.

IT'S DRAWING PEOPLE INTO THE BUSINESSES AND HELPING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

>> AS FOR THE FUTURE, ANNAPOLIS BLUES GENERAL MANAGER SAYS THEY'VE EXCEEDED THEIR INITIAL GOALSISM WE HAVE TO RESET THE PLANS EVERY YEAR.

BEFORE, PEOPLE SAID YOU SET THE BAR SO HIGH WHAT DO YOU DO NOW?

WE JUMP HIGHER.

>> IN ANNAPOLIS, SUE COPPIN FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK MONDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "DIRECT CONNECTION".