![]() ![]() Because blue crabs are so important to the region's ecosystem and economy, both Maryland and Virginia monitor the blue crab population through an annual Winter Dredge Survey. How many blue crabs live in the Chesapeake Bay? Data provided by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.įor most of the last two decades, the total number of blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay has lingered below the long-term average. Over the past 60 years, blue crabs have dominated Chesapeake Bay fisheries, with an estimated one-third of the nation’s blue crab catch coming from the Bay. Scientists are concerned that a decline in the Chesapeake Bay blue crab population could negatively affect salt marsh habitat, as periwinkle populations feed on marsh grasses.īlue crabs also support a large recreational fishery in the Bay, and are the estuary's most valuable commercial fishery. They eat bivalves (i.e., clams, mussels, oysters), smaller crustaceans, freshly dead fish, plant and animal detritus and almost anything else they can find.īlue crabs feed on marsh periwinkles (snails), helping regulate periwinkle populations. Soft-shell crabs that have just molted are particularly vulnerable to predators.īlue crabs are among the top consumers of bottom-dwelling organisms, or benthos. Striped bass, red drum, catfish and some sharks depend on blue crabs as part of their diet. Juvenile and adult blue crabs serve as food for fish, birds and even other blue crabs. Water quality improvements, seagrass restoration and proper fishery management will help maintain this valuable resource.Īs both predator and prey, blue crabs are a keystone species in the Chesapeake Bay food web.īlue crab larvae are part of the Bay’s planktonic community, serving as food for menhaden, oysters and other filter feeders. However, the blue crab population has fluctuated over time in response to fishing pressure and environmental drivers including pollution and habitat loss. The Bay’s signature crustacean is one of the most recognizable critters in the watershed, supporting valuable commercial and recreational fisheries. ![]() There is nothing more “Chesapeake” than the blue crab. ![]()
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