Virginia and Maryland will cut their female blue crab harvests in the Chesapeake Bay by 34 percent this year as the states’ signature crustaceans reach perilously low population levels.

Govs. Tim Kaine and Martin O’Malley in a joint news conference announced the cuts Tuesday after releasing the results of a winter dredge survey that showed the area’s adult crab population has dipped to 125 million, far short of the 200 million scientists consider to be healthy.