CRAB FEASTS WILL CONTINUE LIKE THEY ALWAYS DO IN MARYLAND BUT THIS SUMMER COULD BE MORE EXPENSIVE. >> I THINK IT IS A MIXED BAG WITH THE DATA. BLUE CRABS TEND TO DO THIS TO US VERY OFTEN. THEY SEND US MIXED SIGNALS. >> CHRIS MOORE, SENIOR SCIENTIST WITH THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION, SAYS THE DATA FOUND IN A RECENT BLUE CRAB REPORT ARE BOTH TROUBLING AND PROMISING. >> THE BAD NEWS IS THE NUMBER OF JUVENILES WAS THE LOWEST ON RECORD. WE NEVER WANT TO SEE A POPULATION THAT IS THE LOWEST ON RECORD. THE NUMBER OF MALES DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY. >> BUT WHEN IT COMES TO FEMALE CRABS THINGS LOOK BETTER. WHILE FEMALE SPAWNING AGE CRABS DROPPED YEAR OVER YEAR FROM 158 MILLION TO 141 MILLION THAT’S STILL ABOVE THE LONG-TERM AVERAGE OF 126 MILLION. STILL TOTAL ESTIMATED CRABS IN THE BAY DROPPED DRAMATICALLY YEAR OVER YEAR FROM 405 MILLION TO 282 MILLION. >> IT DOES NOT BODE WELL FOR LATER ON THIS SUMMER. >> BLAIR BALTUS PRESIDENT OF THE BALTIMORE COUNTY WATERMAN’S ASSOCIATION IS TRYING TO FIND A SILVER LINING. >> THE MATURE FEMALE CRABS, THE LAST YEAR, WE HAVE BEEN PRETTY GOOD IN THE NUMBERS. IT SHOULD BE SUSTAINABLE. IT IS ALL PROBABLY RATHER RELATED. -- WEATHER RELATED. >> WHILE HE SAYS THE FEMALE NUMBERS LOOK GOOD NEXT SEASON WILL MOST LIKELY DEPEND ON WATER SALINITY AND IF TROPICAL STORMS AND HURRICANES CAN HELP PUSH MORE LARVAE BACK INTO THE BAY. >> WE COULD BOUNCE BACK NEXT WINTER AND HAVE A GREAT JUVENILE COUNT ON THE CRABS IF WE GET THE RIGHT CONDITIONS WITH THEM. >> OVERALL, AGAIN, JUST A RECAP. THAT SUMMER CRAB FEAST IS LIKELY TO COST A LITTLE MORE THIS YEAR THAN IT DID LAST YEAR. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SURVEY WE HAVE A LINK ON OUR WEB
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Survey: This summer's crab feast will be more expensive due to drop in population
Annual survey finds fewer blue crabs in Chesapeake Bay this year
Updated: 5:23 PM EDT May 21, 2021
Attention crab lovers, 2021 is not going to be a great year.The results of the 2021 Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey -- the annual estimate of the blue crab population in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries -- indicate there will be fewer crabs in the bay this year, meaning higher prices for crabs and crabmeat.DNR: Chesapeake Bay blue crab population shows healthy female abundanceDNR: 2021 Blue Crab Winter Dredge SurveyChris Moore, senior scientist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said the data found in a recent blue crab report are both troubling and promising."I think it’s very much a mixed bag with the data, and unfortunately, blue crabs tend to do this to us. Very often, they send us mixed signals," Moore said. "The bad news is the number of juveniles was the lowest on record, and obviously, we never want to see a population that’s not the lowest on record. And the number of males dropped pretty significantly as well."But there are a few bright sides for which watermen are hopeful. When it comes to female crabs, things look better. While female spawning-age crabs dropped year over year from 158 million to 141 million, that's still above the long-term average of 126 million.Still, total estimated crabs in the bay dropped dramatically year over year from 405 million to 282 million.Blair Baltus, president of the Baltimore County Waterman's Association, is trying to find a silver lining."It doesn’t bode well for later on this summer or next year in the springtime," Baltus said. "The mature female crabs (over) the last year, we’ve been pretty good in the numbers where it should be sustainable, and it’s all probably weather related."While Baltus said the female numbers look good, next season will most likely depend on water salinity, and if tropical storms and hurricanes can help push more larvae back into the bay."We could bounce back next winter, have a great juvenile count on the crabs if we get the right conditions with them," Baltus said.So overall, this summer's crab feasts will most likely cost more than last year for Maryland blue crabs.
Attention crab lovers, 2021 is not going to be a great year.
The results of the 2021 Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey -- the annual estimate of the blue crab population in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries -- indicate there will be fewer crabs in the bay this year, meaning higher prices for crabs and crabmeat.
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Chris Moore, senior scientist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said the data found in a recent blue crab report are both troubling and promising.
"I think it’s very much a mixed bag with the data, and unfortunately, blue crabs tend to do this to us. Very often, they send us mixed signals," Moore said. "The bad news is the number of juveniles was the lowest on record, and obviously, we never want to see a population that’s not the lowest on record. And the number of males dropped pretty significantly as well."
But there are a few bright sides for which watermen are hopeful. When it comes to female crabs, things look better. While female spawning-age crabs dropped year over year from 158 million to 141 million, that's still above the long-term average of 126 million.
Still, total estimated crabs in the bay dropped dramatically year over year from 405 million to 282 million.
Blair Baltus, president of the Baltimore County Waterman's Association, is trying to find a silver lining.
"It doesn’t bode well for later on this summer or next year in the springtime," Baltus said. "The mature female crabs (over) the last year, we’ve been pretty good in the numbers where it should be sustainable, and it’s all probably weather related."
While Baltus said the female numbers look good, next season will most likely depend on water salinity, and if tropical storms and hurricanes can help push more larvae back into the bay.
"We could bounce back next winter, have a great juvenile count on the crabs if we get the right conditions with them," Baltus said.
So overall, this summer's crab feasts will most likely cost more than last year for Maryland blue crabs.
May 22, 2021 at 04:23AM
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Survey: This summer's crab feast will be more expensive due to drop in population - WBAL TV Baltimore
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