This has been a good year for Maryland seafood so far! We’ve already noted the increase of healthy oyster populations in the Chesapeake Bay. Now, a recent report published by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources points to a rising crab population.
Annual Winter Dredge Survey
The annual winter dredge survey has been conducted by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Virginia Institute of Marine Science every year since 1990. The survey is conducted by capturing crabs throughout 1,500 sites throughout the Chesapeake Bay from December to March. The crabs are caught, measured, recorded, and released. This yearly survey helps scientists to measure the health and volume of crabs in the Chesapeake Bay. This year is looking good, as the crab population is indicated to be 533 million, which is a 35 percent increase over last year’s population. Crab populations were also on the rise last year, with the population being 38 percent higher than the previous year’s.
What Causes Higher Crab Populations?
According to Fisheries Service Director Dave Blazer, the spike in crab populations is “due to a milder winter, favorable currents and tides, and wise bay-wide management measures”. The wise bay-wide management measures he is referring to are probably a combination of cleanup efforts and the larger oyster sanctuaries that were established by former Governor Martin O’Malley. Former Governor O’Malley increased the oyster sanctuaries from 9% of the bay to 25%, a drastic change that has obviously had dramatically positive effects on local fauna. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation also hosts an Annual Clean the Bay Day, which has engaged over 140,000 volunteers since 1989 who have cleaned approximately 6.2 million pounds of debris from about 6,500 miles of Virginia shoreline! These conscientious measures have rewarded us with more healthy crabs to eat!
Come Visit Costas Inn!
Costas Inn has been a family owned and operated restaurant for over 40 years. We were recently voted the 2015 #1 Baltimore Seafood Restaurant by USA Today. You may have spotted Costas Inn during one of our 9 appearances on the Today Show or heard one of our many interviews on WJZ TV Channel 13 with Ron Matz and Marty Bass. We were also voted #1 Crab Restaurant 2014 in the Baltimore Business Journal! You can enjoy our famous crab cakes in-house or order them online for anytime eating. We also provide some of the best seafood catering in the Baltimore area! You can also get your fill from Costas even when you’re not in our dining room: follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and YouTube!