The annual Blue Crab Advisory Report, released July 2 by the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) and developed by the Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee (CBSAC), finds the overall Chesapeake Bay blue crab population is not depleted and is not being overfished.
The blue crab population in the bay has increased nearly 60% from 372 million in 2018 to 594 million in 2019.
The report, providing scientific analysis of the bay’s blue crab population, helps resource managers set blue crab fishing regulations.
“By using sound science included in this annual report to manage the fishery, the bay jurisdictions have enabled responsible harvest of female blue crabs…