- Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley on Thursday announced the Chesapeake Bay's juvenile blue crab population is at the highest level on record, and the overall blue crab population is at its highest level since 1993.
Joined by stakeholders and elected officials, O'Malley revealed the results of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' annual winter dredge survey at Mike's Crab House overlooking the Severn river.
"Just a few short years ago, the future did not look bright for our blue crab population," O'Malley said. "Our female crabs were being overfished, and our fishery was at risk of complete collapse. Today's announcement marks four years in a row of progress to restore the blue crab."
According to the survey, an estimated 764 million crabs spent this winter in the bay, nearly 66 percent more than last year. Juvenile crabs reached a record high of 587 million, nearly triple last year's 207 million. The previous record of 512 million was set in 1997.
The survey results did sound one cautionary note, which was a decline in the number of spawning-age females from 190 million to 97 million crabs. Despite the downturn, the population remains above the safe threshold level. Preliminary estimates of the 2011 female harvest are below the target of 25.5 percent, again confirming that management measures have continued to be effective at constraining the fishery to appropriate levels.
"The drop in abundance of spawning-age females is neither unusual nor unprecedented – in fact, we expect this type of variation in populations from year to year," said DNR Secretary John Griffin. "While last year's severe storms and the warm winter may have had an impact, we are optimistic that our record recruitment will bode well for next year's adults, both male and female. Meanwhile, it is our job is to make sure that fishing occurs at an appropriate level, which we will continue to do."
Officials said Maryland's management system of daily catch limits and closed periods is designed to adapt and ensure that annual crab harvests stay balanced with annual shifts in abundance.
Estimates of abundance are developed separately for young of the year crabs, mature female crabs, and adult male crabs.
Officials said that through a collaboration in 2008, Maryland, Virginia and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission took strong coordinated action to reduce harvest pressure on female crabs by 34 percent. At that time, scientists from all three jurisdictions deemed conservation measures necessary as blue crabs suffered near historic lows in spawning stock.
"This fishery appears to be in far better shape than it was just a few short years ago and is one of the most successful fishery stock rebuilding programs ever, anywhere," said Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources Doug Domenech. "I attribute that to the actions taken by the Marine Resources Commission, the excellent scientific advice from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and the continuing efforts of Maryland's Department of Natural Resources."
http://www.wboc.com/story/17585069/c...vel-since-1993
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Originally Posted by Crabby
