Status of the Chesapeake Blue Crab & Its Fishery

The Chesapeake blue crab knows no state boundaries during its complex life cycle. Though it is a highly resilient species, changes in management Baywide are needed to ensure a vibrant blue crab population and a sustainable fishery far into the future.

Overall abundance for all age groups of blue crabs is down.

Fishing mortality has increased Baywide since the mid-1980s.

Spawning stock biomass is below the long-term average.

The fishery independent surveys show a decreasing percentage of legal-size crabs.

The average size of crabs has decreased. It is likely that once crabs molt to above 5 inches, most are harvested and do not have a chance to get above 6 inches.

The reproductive potential of crabs may be compromised due to the smaller size and lower abundance of mature males and females.

Fishing effort has been at record levels Baywide, while the catch-per-unit effort hasdeclined.

There is potential for fishing effort and fishing mortality to increase, both in the commercial and recreational fishery.

The crab fishery is overcapitalized, resulting in higher than necessary costs to commercial fishermen.

Over the last ten years, effort and landings in the peeler/soft crab fishery have increased substantially in Virginia, yet the consequences remain unknown.

Fishing mortality must be reduced and fishing effort must be controlled in all sectors of thefishery to ensure long-term sustainability of the crab stock and increase income in thefishery. Management programs to control effort that distribute income equitably, protect crabbers from the risks of reducing effort, and facilitate entry into and exit from the fishery should be developed.

A strategy for building and marketing the distinctive benefits of domestic crab in relation to foreign crab meat is needed.

A protected spawning sanctuary-corridor complex is an appropriate means of protecting a portion of the blue crab spawning stock and other life stages in the lower Chesapeake Bay.

Important habitats for the blue crab such as seagrass beds in the Chesapeake Bay should be further investigated, restored and protected through improved water quality and other measures.

The fishery independent surveys (Maryland and Virginia trawl surveys, winter dredge survey and the Calvert Cliffs survey) are important, long-term data sets essential in management.

Funding for blue crab management, especially the fishery independent surveys, is a high priority and needs to be maintained and expanded.

Posted: 11-14-2000