Increases in Male, Female, and Juvenile Populations
ANNAPOLIS, MD— Governor Larry Hogan, chairman of the Chesapeake Executive Council, announced that the results of the 2019 Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey showed that the Bay-wide blue crab population increased 60% from last year, to an estimated total population of 594 million crabs.
“We are proud of our administration’s strong record of skilled environmental stewardship, which begins with safeguarding the Chesapeake Bay,” said Governor Hogan. “Today’s results are further proof and a shining example that our efforts to protect Maryland's blue crab population, while ensuring the health of our state’s most important natural asset, have been successful.”
Ahead of today’s announcement, Governor Hogan went to Mike’s Crab House in Riva, where he and First Lady Yumi Hogan enjoyed their first crabs of the season.
The adult female population climbed to 190 million, a 29% gain from 2018 and the adult male population increased to 80 million or 38%. Mild winter temperatures also helped increase both juvenile and adult blue crab overwintering survival rates.
“The blue crab population is both healthy and thriving, which is great news for the entire Bay,” said Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio. “Under Governor Hogan’s leadership, these results are a clear indication of the effectiveness of our management plan for blue crabs, an iconic species that is essential to Maryland’s economy and the Bay’s ecosystem.”
The juvenile crab population also increased from 167 million in 2018 to 324 million this year. Since blue crabs spend the first part of their lives in the Atlantic Ocean they rely heavily on favorable currents, temperatures and winds to bring them into the Chesapeake Bay where they grow and mature.
“The female abundance of blue crabs is close to our target and the juvenile population is above average,” said Natural Resources Fisheries Monitoring and Assessment Director Michael Luisi. “We expect a lot of variability in the blue crab population, and taking a conservative approach offers stability for the fisheries in the face of swings in abundance.”
In 2018, baywide harvest was 55 million pounds, which is similar to the 54 million pounds harvested in 2017.
The Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee will review the results of the survey and plan to release a full analysis this summer.
The Winter Dredge Survey has been conducted cooperatively by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science since 1990 and the results are reviewed annually in an effort to have consistent management efforts across the jurisdictions. Throughout the survey, biologists use dredge equipment to capture, measure, record, and release blue crabs at 1,500 sites throughout the Chesapeake Bay from December through March. For more information, please click here.
24 comments:
Mild winter temperatures are responsible. This has nothing to do with crab management. These bastards would take credit for the sun rising if they thought we were stupid enough to believe it. They might be in Baltimore
Yup 804. Though I bet he won't say the ever increasing heroin epidemic is due to his administration's policies. Take credit but deflect responsibility.
RINO Hogan at it again STFU.
Blah blah blah...same story every couple of years then right before memorial/July 4th/labor day a grim story is released sending prices up up UP!!!!
Lather rinse repeat!
Up 60% and I can assure you they will cost 15% more this year. Oh well I support watermen.
PRESIDENT Hogan LOLOLOLOL.
Yea right Larry, and gun control reduces crime.
I want to eat crabs with Hogan next time. Damn, look at the size of those crabs!
You dumb dumbs do know that mortality is built into these stock assessments and catch quotas right? The same clowns that dont understand algebra are the same ones wanting to knock DNR scientists.
It looks like the restaurant pulled the biggest crabs that they had out for the Governor and First Lady for this photo op.
Damn that man looks like uncle fester from the Munsters television show. Such a nice looking wife
@10:20 go up around the Easton area and try some. The crabs up there are so much better sized and full of meat
So you understand algebra - too funny Patting yourself nthe back. When did you last use Algebra in the real world-grocery store. You are the clown.😂😂😂
Who is going to pick crabs? Not people receiving State welfare. Immigrants with temporary visas.
Join him at the local DNC office and tell him we PATRIOTS call him a POS.
It's all estimates
I wouldn't eat a cheeseburger with that RINO POS
104 just proved my point. Sir/madam, if you have to ask that question, you should sit out on any debate concerning this topic
Northwest Woodsman: My favorite summer activity is going out in my boat and catching huge Dungeness crabs from our local bay. Their smallest legs are larger than the largest claws of a blue crab. Grew up crabbing on the eastern shore but never experienced anything like the crabs up here in the northwest.
Notice that a lot of fat and/or ugly guys go after desperate Asian girls? The girls are so desperate to get out of their country that they will marry any man that will get them out of there. I know several like that right here in Salisbury.
@ May 7, 2019 at 12:21 PM. She only married him to get out of her country or to stay here. A lot of ugly, or fat men go to Asia to find a woman. Knowing that a beautiful woman here will have nothing to with them. But in Asia, they are a dime a dozen and up for grabs to get out of their situation. You know she did not look at him and see a handsome man and fell head over heels for him. And he knew that and took advantage of it.
Appropriate. A RINO eats big crabs.
Gov. hasn't always looks as he looks today.
So he will have 3 wins in all his term so far,getting visas for crab pickers,lowering the bridge toll and extending school summer vacation.
Post a Comment