Virginia Marine Resources Commissioner Jack Travelstead has temporarily extended the time-of-day restrictions on the commercial harvest of crabs, in order to give crabbers plenty of opportunity to get their gear out of the water before a major storm hits within the next few days.

The effects of the approaching storm may persist through Tuesday.

“Crabbers should take this opportunity to retrieve all their crab pots so that are not lost in the storm or blown ashore onto private property or into moored vessels,’’ said Travelstead. “Lost crab pots can continue to capture and kill fish, crabs and even birds. No one wants that, and watermen surely don’t want to lose their gear.”

Commercial crabbing hours at this time of year normally are limited to 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. However, crabbing hours will be extended temporarily from 5 a.m. until sunset from Friday, Oct. 26 through Friday, Nov. 2, 2012.

The extended hours are intended to give crabbers time b...