Female Crab Population Up In Chesapeake Bay, Juvenile Numbers Low

MARYLAND — The Chesapeake Bay blue crab population appears to have a healthy number of spawning-age female crabs, according to the 2020 Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey. Maryland, Virginia and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission aims to conserve more than 70 million adult female crabs annually to ensure enough young crabs can be produced to sustain the population, a task that has now been achieved for the sixth consecutive year. This year’s survey estimates 141 million adult female crabs were conserved, which is above the long-term average of 126 million.

The 2020 Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey results also revealed there were 79 million adult male crabs, just above the long-term average of 77 million and similar to the estimate from 2019. The total amount of blue crab in the Chesapeake Bay in 2020 was 405 million crabs, a near-average threshold for the 30 years the survey has been conducted.

However, the number of juvenile crabs declined in 2020 to 185 million, down from last year’s total of 323 million. Juvenile numbers are largely driven by environmental factors, such as currents, temperature and winds. While the numbers fall below the long-term average of 254 million, it's still an improvement from the 2018 level and above the low 105 million reported in 1992.

“While there are some expected fluctuations, our collective management efforts continue to enable the population to stay resilient and sustainable,” Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio said in a news release. “Maryland blue crabs remain an iconic part of our heritage and our environment.”

The Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee will review the survey results and release its full analysis in its 2020 Blue Crab Advisory Report this summer. The department will discuss the results with the Blue Crab Industry Advisory Committee to help guide the course of action for 2020 that promotes the health of the Chesapeake Bay blue crab population and its fisheries.