BLUE CRAB
EXPERT TOPIC One of the most sought-out shellfish in the mid-Atlantic region by Rebecca Sherratt, Production editor, International Aquafeed
T
he blue crab is one of the most soughtout shellfish in the mid-Atlantic region, caught commercially for food, but also recreationally by many fishers residing upon the coast, or simply travelling to the coast for some relaxing crabbing. Areas with ample cover, particularly areas ripe with submerged aquatic vegetation, are the places where blue
crabs tend to nestle. Blue crabs can be caught relatively easily, usually they are harvested only with simple gear such as a pot, trotline, handline, dip net, scrape or dredge. The equipment used to catch crabs has little to no effect on habitat, however, the mass number of crustaceans being harvested has led to multiple associations establishing regulations to maintain and increase their numbers.
Declining Numbers
Since the 1990s, fishermen have gone to an extended effort to ensure that less crabs are harvested from the oceans. Since then, a drastic improvement has been seen in the numbers of crustaceans,
34 | December 2018 - International Aquafeed