The Maryland Department of Natural Resources today released the 2013 Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey numbers, showing mixed results. The number of spawning-age females increased substantially this year – by 52 percent − indicating that the current management framework to protect adult female crabs is working. However, poor reproduction in 2013 and what appears to be high mortality within the record 2012 year-class resulted in an overall decline in the Bay-wide population. At 147 million, the female population is more than double the scientifically-established, healthy-abundance threshold of 70 million. Total abundance of blue crabs dropped from 765 million to 300 million, and the number of juvenile crabs dipped from 581 million to 111 million.
“The results of this year’s winter dredge survey are by no means ideal, however, our strong management framework includes a buffer that allows the population to fluctuate within a safe threshold,” said DNR Secretary John Griffin. “In fact, the conservation measures we first put into place in 2008 were designed to allow for the naturally occurring fluctuations crabs are known for and ensure a sustainable seafood industry.”
While the percentage of mature females harvested in 2012 is projected to be under the safe target level of 25.5 percent for the fifth consecutive year, the dockside value of Maryland’s overall commercial blue crab fishery has increased significantly under the State’s conservation measures. The statewide dockside value which averaged 35.6 million from 2005 to 2007 − has increased 49 percent, since management changes were adopted, to an average of $52.9 million annually from 2008 to 2012.
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