Crabs and Crabbing

1. Crabs and Crabbing Red Kayak Project Lili W.

2. Crabs • Callinectesspidus (kal I nek’ tes sap’ idues) is the blue crabs scientific name which is translated into “savory beautiful swimmer.” • By walking sideways and using their sharp lateral spines blue crabs create a path. • Large males usually have blue claws and legs while females have bright orange tips on their claws. • Females are usually smaller than males who sometimes grow to be 7 or 8 inches.

3. Crabbing Bait

4. Economy • The crab industries success largely depends on the crab population and demand. • Even though the crab population has risen from an earlier drop the industry populations themselves have still not risen. • In 1995 there were 53 licensed distributers. • Today there are only about 15.

5. Regulations In mAryland • Female harvest is prohibited except for female crabs • Minumum sizes for males vary from: • 5” to 5 ¼” for hard crabs • 3 1/4 “ to 3 ½” for peelers • And 3 1/2 “ for soft • Recreational crabbers can only catch one bushel per day

6. Environmental issues • The population of crabs has been dropping since 1992. • The population has just risen recently. • Several reasons that this happen are: • Over harvesting • Environmental Degradation • Capturing Females • Nursery Habitats being Destroyed

7. Bibliography • http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/new-chesapeake-crab-study-points-to-need-for-continued-protection-for-females/2011/08/09/gIQA0NkU5I_story.html • http://chesapeake.news21.com/water/chesapeake-bay-crab-industry-struggles • http://nr.ncr.vt.edu/major_papers/Gayle_Pugh.pdf • http://chesapeakejournal.wordpress.com/2011/06/20/what-do-bull-lips-veal-razor-clams-eel-and-chicken-necks-have-in-common/ • http://www.bluecrab.info/crabbing/hardcrabs.html • http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/regulations/regindex.asp?page=bluecrab • http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/blueclaw.htm • http://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/pub/seascience/bluecrab.html