(WMAR) — The survey is in, and it comes with great news for Maryland crab lovers!
The 2019 Blue Crab Advisory Report found that the blue crab population is not being depleted or overfished, and there's an estimated 594 billion crabs living in the Chesapeake Bay.
The survey also shows the adult female blue crab population has increased almost 30 percent to 191 million. And numbers also show that the young blue crab population is expected to increase to 322 million by this fall.
“By using sound science included in this annual report to manage the fishery, the Bay jurisdictions have enabled responsible harvest of female blue crabs for the past 10 consecutive years,” said Sean Corson, chair of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Sustainable Fisheries Goal Implementation Team, in a media release. “Consumers can enjoy their Chesapeake Bay crab feasts knowing blue crabs are responsibly managed.”
The Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee still urges that Maryland, Virginia and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission maintain a cautious, risk-averse approach to blue crab management.
