Maryland will cut its blue crab harvest up to 40 percent this year to address fears the crabs are reaching dangerously low levels in the Chesapeake Bay.

A draft of proposed regulations lays out plans by Maryland fisheries regulators to protect full-grown females, which biologists say are needed to replenish the population.

The plans include a potential of lowering bushel limits for female crabs, or even closing Maryland's mature female crab harvest in April and May. The regulations will be reviewed by crabbers before becoming final.

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine are scheduled to announce more changes to the crab harvest nest week.

Virginia has already announced tighter limits.