The Chesapeake Bay blue crab population has reached its highest level since 1997.
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley announced on Wednesday that the 2009-10 winter dredge survey revealed that the population has increased to 658 million crabs, up from 403 million a year ago and just 298 million two years ago.
Last year's Chesapeake Bay blue crab harvest totaled 53 million pounds, the third largest catch in the past 10 years. Maryland's share totaled 30.5 million pounds, and Virginia's 22.5 million pounds.
McDonnell and O'Malley attributed the increased population to the stock rebuilding program enacted by Maryland and Virginia in 2008, with the goal of reducing fishing pressure on female crabs by 34 percent.
The latest survey also shows a baby boom – the number of juvenile crabs nearly doubled from a year ago, making it the largest new generation of crabs since 1997.
"This is shaping up to be a tremendous environmental success story," said McDonnell. "The crab population is booming. Harvests are up. Our commercial crabbers' jobs and the waterman's way of life now appear to be on the path to sustainability. This is great news for everyone who makes their living by crabbing and for everyone who enjoys genuine Chesapeake Bay crab cakes and she-crab soup."
In 2008, the U.S. Department of Commerce declared the Chesapeake Bay blue crab fishery a federal disaster. Under the designation, USD 15 million in aid from the National Marine Fisheries Service was appropriated for Maryland and Virginia to help crab stocks recover and provide economic relief to fishermen and processors.
April 14, 2010
