One of the key questions regarding the survey, however, is just how closely the observed winter population of juveniles correlates with the actual number of blue crabs that survive to the summer. The 2013 winter dredge survey found markedly lower numbers of juvenile crabs (crabs smaller than 2.4 in) than in previous years. The data are used to calculate crab density and from that project overall crab abundance. The survey takes into account 3 different regions of the bay, and 1500 sites are surveyed. The winter dredge survey, an extensive bottom trawl survey that catches blue crabs overwintering at the bottom of the bay, is impressive for its scale and precision. However, a low number of juveniles were caught in the winter dredge this year, leading to a gloomy forecast for the number of harvestable blue crabs for the 2013 season.ĭuring my summer internship at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC), I want to investigate if this forecast is coming true. Since new regulations on crab harvesting, particularly those restricting the harvest of mature females, were put in place in 2008, the population of blue crabs has increased significantly. The cause of this decline is not fully known, but is most likely a combination of overfishing, habitat loss, poor recruitment, and poor water quality. From the late 1990s to mid-2000s, the blue crab population was in decline, with a near record low population of blue crabs recorded in 2008. The blue crab may be the most well-known denizen of the Chesapeake Bay, with the blue crab fishery one of the most productive in the region. Check out the Blue Crab Blog for the latest news regarding Maryland’s favorite crustacean.īy Katie Sinclair, Guest Blogger and Intern at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Republished with permission from the Blue Crab Blog.
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