Crab Population Study 2018: Results Are In

Don't worry, we can relax. The blue crab population is going to be fine this year. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources released the results of its 2018 Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey, showing the blue crab population is "healthy and sustainable."

Every year, from December to March, marine biologists dredge 1,500 sites throughout Chesapeake Bay, measuring the populations. Here's what they came up with.

We can thank the younger generation of crabs for the good numbers. The particularly cold winter and ice cover caused an estimated 35 percent mortality rate among adult females in state waters and 23 percent for males.

But overall, young crabs increased by 35 percent, and make up nearly half of the crab population. With their help, the bay-wide crab population was estimated by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources at 371 million.

While that's far lower than last year's estimate of 455 million, the population remains healthy. “Last year we had very few young crabs entering the bay. Those juveniles grew through 2017 and endured this year’s cold winter to become the 2018 class of spawning adults,” Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee Chair Glenn Davis said.

“Despite the cold, hard winter, which extended well into the spring, the blue crab population remains healthy, resilient and sustainable,” Maryland Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton said. “Even with the erratic weather, which included snow in April, the blue crab population remains well within parameters, showing that the state and our partners are managing the species well.”

There may be a slow start to the early harvest season, the Department of Natural Resources said, because of the low numbers of adult crabs. But they say the late season may see improved numbers.

Article image via Maryland Department of Natural Resources website