According to a recent study, Chesapeake Bay blue crab harvests could be down in 2013. The latest Chesapeake Bay winter dredge survey, overall abundance of blue crabs dropped from 765 million to 300 million crabs.
Juvenile crab counts fell from 581 million to 111 million. The female population was estimated at 147 million, well above the minimum established threshold of 70 million.
Poor reproduction in 2013 and high mortality among 2012 year-class crabs may have led to the decline of blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay.
Maryland, Virginia, and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission (PRFC) said to be drafting new regulations that will reduce the harvest of female crabs by approximately 10 percent in response to the decline.
The Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey samples blue crab numbers at 1,500 sites throughout the Chesapeake Bay.
source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Virginia Marine Resources Commission
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Friday, November 2, 2012
Where Do Dungeness Crabs Come From?
The Dungeness crab is one of North America's most popular crustaceans. This large, sweet tasting crab is often found in seafood markets and other food outlets.
Dungeness crabs are caught along the Pacific Coast of North America. They generally prefer cooler waters and are uncommon south of Point Conception, California. Dungeness crabs are usually found on sandy or muddy bottoms at depths of 300 feet or less.
The Dungeness is an important catch for U.S. Pacific Coast commercial fishermen. 2011 Dungeness crab landings exceeded 67.4 million pounds worth more than $185 million.
In some areas, Dungeness crabs are caught recreationally with crab pots (or traps), loop traps, and hoop nets.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
2011 USA Seafood Consumption
According to NOAA's report, entitled Fisheries of the United States 2011, U.S. commercial fishermen landed 10.1 billion pounds of fish and shellfish in 2011, valued at $5.3 billion.
Total U.S. seafood landings increased by 1.9 billion pounds and more than $784 million over 2010 levels, mainly due to higher catches of Gulf menhaden, Alaska pollock, and Pacific hake (whiting).
Gulf shrimp landings rose 20 percent, from 176 million pounds valued at $338 million in 2010 to 212 million pounds valued at $418 million in 2011.
Americans consumed 4.7 billion pounds of seafood in 2011. Around 91 percent of seafood consumed in the U.S. was imported, up five percent from 2010. The top three imported seafood products are shrimp, canned tuna, and tilapia fillets.
The report contains valuable data regarding U.S. commercial and recreational fisheries by species, productivity by fishing port, USA annual seafood consumption statistics, and other information.
source: NOAA Fisheries
Total U.S. seafood landings increased by 1.9 billion pounds and more than $784 million over 2010 levels, mainly due to higher catches of Gulf menhaden, Alaska pollock, and Pacific hake (whiting).
Gulf shrimp landings rose 20 percent, from 176 million pounds valued at $338 million in 2010 to 212 million pounds valued at $418 million in 2011.
Americans consumed 4.7 billion pounds of seafood in 2011. Around 91 percent of seafood consumed in the U.S. was imported, up five percent from 2010. The top three imported seafood products are shrimp, canned tuna, and tilapia fillets.
The report contains valuable data regarding U.S. commercial and recreational fisheries by species, productivity by fishing port, USA annual seafood consumption statistics, and other information.
source: NOAA Fisheries
Monday, August 20, 2012
Maryland Seafood Marketing Logo Contest Winner
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently unveiled the new logo for its Seafood Marketing Program. The winning design, created by John Snyder of Baltimore, will be used to in seafood marketing promotions throughout the State.
Earlier this summer, DNR’s Seafood Marketing Program held a logo contest in search of a new emblem that would showcase the Chesapeake Bay’s bounty. The Seafood Marketing Advisory Commission, responsible for choosing a winner, decided on Snyder’s design from the more than 75 submissions.
Snyder and four of his friends will enjoy a Chesapeake Bay Charter trip where they will choose to harvest one three types of Maryland seafood: blue crab, striped bass, or oyster.
source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Earlier this summer, DNR’s Seafood Marketing Program held a logo contest in search of a new emblem that would showcase the Chesapeake Bay’s bounty. The Seafood Marketing Advisory Commission, responsible for choosing a winner, decided on Snyder’s design from the more than 75 submissions.
Snyder and four of his friends will enjoy a Chesapeake Bay Charter trip where they will choose to harvest one three types of Maryland seafood: blue crab, striped bass, or oyster.
source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Species
Several species of warmwater (penaeid) shrimp are found in Gulf of Mexico, including white shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus), brown shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecus), pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus duorarum), royal red shrimp (Pleoticus robustus or Hymenopenaeus robustus) and rock shrimp (Sicyonia brevirostris).
Gulf shrimp are harvested from Florida to Texas. According to NOAA's Fisheries Economics of the United States 2009, Gulf of Mexico shrimpers averaged $409 million in landings revenue from 2000 to 2009.
During the period, shrimp was the most valuable catch for fishermen in Alabama, West Florida, Louisiana and Texas. Lousiana fishermen landed the most shrimp, exceeding 100 million pounds annually. Declines of gulf shrimp landings and values during the period were due to falling ex-vessel prices.
Roughly 68 percent of of the shrimp harvested in the USA comes from the Gulf of Mexico.
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