EASTON — The Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab population is at a healthy level, regulators reported Thursday, June 30, after numbers indicate the population increased for the second year in a row.
According to the Chesapeake Bay Program, the 2016 Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Advisory Report indicates the total population of all crabs increased from 411 million in 2015 to 553 million in 2016 — a continuation of an upward trend since 2014.
In 2014, regulators reported the spawning-age female blue crab population fell below a minimum threshold of 70 million, sparking concerns of a waning population. The spawning-age female population is estimated to be around 194 million crabs at the start of the 2016 season, which is slightly below a target level of 215 million, according to the Chesapeake Bay Program.
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