For lovers of the classic Maryland blue crab, there’s good news. According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the blue crab population in the Chesapeake Bay is about 38 percent more than last year.
These numbers show promise for the future of the blue crab and the Chesapeake Bay’s ecosystem, but the population of spawning-age female blue crabs is still lower than the Department of Natural Resources’ goal.
Population growing despite harsh winter
The fact that the numbers increased at all, especially this substantially is a good sign for the survival of the Chesapeake Bay blue crab because this past winter was particularly harsh. Winters and freezing temperatures typically kill 19 percent of adult crabs so it is particularly notable that the blue crab population increased by so much in the same year as a harsh winter.
Size concerns
Despite increasing numbers of blue crabs, they are still on the small side so that is another area the Department is working on to make sure the blue crabs receive the nutrients they need to grow bigger.
Efforts to keep the Chesapeake Bay spread across the whole region, even outside of Maryland, because everyone on the Mid-Atlantic Coast and even beyond recognizes that no other crab is better than the Maryland blue crab.
What makes the blue crab so great?
Aside from being finger-licking good, blue crabs are also known for their versatility. They can be steamed and eaten with a hammer and your hands (and plenty of old bay and napkins) or they can be used in soup or a crab cake.
Blue crabs are undeniably tasty and it’s great news for crab enthusiasts that their population in the Chesapeake Bay is significantly larger than last year.
Located in Abingdon, Maryland, our crab cakes are available year round and can be ordered online to be shipped straight to your front door. Order online here or call us at (410)-515-3662. If you ever have any questions or comments about Box Hill or our Maryland crab cakes, use our contact form here.
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Source: http://wtop.com/maryland/2015/04/dredge-survey-results-blue-crabs-bay-plentiful/
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Tags: blue crab population, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland Blue Crab