Image or Graphic

Recent Changes in Blue CrabRecent Changes in Blue CrabManagementManagement

Brenda DavisBrenda DavisBlue Crab Program ManagerBlue Crab Program Manager

Maryland Department of Natural ResourcesMaryland Department of Natural Resources

How Many Crabs Should Be in the Bay – How Many Crabs Should Be in the Bay – the abundance of spawning adults.the abundance of spawning adults.

(2008 winter dredge survey)(2008 winter dredge survey)

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450

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1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008Year

Nu

mb

er o

f C

rab

s (m

illi

on

s) adult abundance

minimum safe abundance = 86 million crabs

target abundance = 200 million crabs

Dangerously low

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1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

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Percentage of Crabs Removed

Target Percentage = 46%

Threshold Percentage = 53%

We can remove 46% of the crab population each We can remove 46% of the crab population each year. If more than 53% of the population is year. If more than 53% of the population is

removed, the population will begin to decrease.removed, the population will begin to decrease.

overfishingoverfishing

The Chesapeake Bay Stock The Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee’s Assessment Committee’s

(CBSAC) recommendation was (CBSAC) recommendation was to reduce bay wide harvest.to reduce bay wide harvest.

The biggest benefit would be The biggest benefit would be achieved if reductions were in achieved if reductions were in

female harvest.female harvest.

Following CBSAC recommendation -

“extending protection to female crabs will create the best odds of increasing the abundance of age 0

crabs.”

Females are more heavily fished than males – this needs to be corrected.

Increasing female abundance is the best bet for rebuilding the population as a whole.

Why Females?Why Females?

Maryland Proposes Regulations to Rebuild

Blue Crab PopulationAnnapolis MD – Today, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources proposed new recreational and commercial harvest regulations to help rebuilding the Chesapeake Bay blue crab population and fishery. The proposed regulations are designed to reduce female blue crab harvest by 34% in 2008.

.

THE DAILY NEWSwww.dailynews.com Chesapeake Bay Area Newspaper - April 22, 2008

The commercial industry initially The commercial industry initially suggested a harvest history based suggested a harvest history based

allocation and that system was used to allocation and that system was used to set bushel limits for the fall of 2008.set bushel limits for the fall of 2008.

Bushel limits in September and Bushel limits in September and October of 2008 were based on October of 2008 were based on

reported female harvest in September reported female harvest in September and October 2004 to 2007.and October 2004 to 2007.

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450

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1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Year

Nu

mb

er o

f C

rab

s (m

illi

on

s) adult abundance

minimum safe abundance = 86 million crabs

target abundance = 200 million crabs

Spawning-age (Age 1+) crabs in Chesapeake Bay Spawning-age (Age 1+) crabs in Chesapeake Bay from the 2009 Winter Dredge Surveyfrom the 2009 Winter Dredge Survey

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20

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1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Year

Per

cen

tag

e R

emo

ved

Percentage of Crabs Removed

Target Percentage = 46%

Threshold Percentage = 53%

The percentage of crabs removed from the population each The percentage of crabs removed from the population each year by fishing relative to target and threshold levelsyear by fishing relative to target and threshold levels

through 2008.through 2008.

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100

200

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400

500

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1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Year

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mb

er o

f C

rab

s (m

illio

ns) Age 0 Abundance Average

Young-of-the-year (Age 0) crabs in Chesapeake Bay Young-of-the-year (Age 0) crabs in Chesapeake Bay from the 2009 Winter Dredge Surveyfrom the 2009 Winter Dredge Survey

DNR worked with members of the DNR worked with members of the industry and developed a system industry and developed a system where female bushel limits are in where female bushel limits are in

effect for the entire season, not just effect for the entire season, not just the fall, and are based on license the fall, and are based on license

typetype.

Changes for 2009 Crabbing Changes for 2009 Crabbing SeasonSeason

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1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010

Year

Nu

mb

er

of

Cra

bs

(m

illio

ns

)

adult abundance

minimum safe abundance = 86 million crabs

target abundance = 200 million crabs

Spawning-age (Age 1+) crabs in Chesapeake BaySpawning-age (Age 1+) crabs in Chesapeake Bayfrom the 2010 Winter Dredge Surveyfrom the 2010 Winter Dredge Survey

Spawning-age (Age 1+) crabs in Chesapeake BaySpawning-age (Age 1+) crabs in Chesapeake Bayfrom the 2010 Winter Dredge Surveyfrom the 2010 Winter Dredge Survey

The percentage of crabs removed from the population The percentage of crabs removed from the population each year by fishing relative to target and threshold levels each year by fishing relative to target and threshold levels

through 2009.through 2009.

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10

20

30

40

50

60

70

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90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09

Year

Per

cen

tag

e R

emo

ved

Percentage of Crabs Removed Target Percentage = 46%

Threshold Percentage = 53%

Young-of-the-year (Age 0) crabs in Chesapeake Young-of-the-year (Age 0) crabs in Chesapeake Bay from the 2009 Winter Dredge SurveyBay from the 2009 Winter Dredge Survey.

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100

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300

400

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600

90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10

Year

Nu

mb

er o

f A

ge

0 C

rab

s (m

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on

s)

age 0 - new recruits age 0 mean

Governor Martin O’Malley Announces Chesapeake BayBlue CrabPopulation Is At Its Highest Level Since 1997

Winter Dredge Survey Results Indicate 60%

Increase;

658 Million Crabs Show Bi-State

Management Actions Continue to Improve

Abundance

THE DAILY NEWSwww.dailynews.com THE WORLD’S FAVOURITE NEWSPAPER - April 15, 2010

Is the blue crab population

Is the blue crab population

in a pinch?

in a pinch?

Is the blue crab population

Is the blue crab population

in a pinch?

in a pinch?

Brenda DavisBrenda DavisBlue Crab Program ManagerBlue Crab Program Manager

October 20, 2009October 20, 2009

Chesapeake Bay Crabs Are Back

Give ‘em a Whack!It’s a great time to enjoy some Chesapeake Bay

crabs!Bay wide harvest restrictions for female blue crabs were put in place in 2008.

Those restrictions combined with favorable environmental conditions haveresulted in a significant increase in the number of crabs in the Bay.

The harvest restrictions protecting female crabs are still in placeto ensure a healthy population and a sustainable fishery.

Does this meanDoes this meanwe’re done?we’re done?

Absolutely Not!Absolutely Not!

We need to continue We need to continue limiting the amount of limiting the amount of

females harvestedfemales harvestedto have any hope ofto have any hope of

obtaining a sustainableobtaining a sustainablepopulation.population.