Market Name: Blue Crab
Scientific Name: Callinectes sapidus
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| Blue crabs occupy estuaries, lagoons and coastal reaches from Massachusetts to the Gulf of Mexico. During the past decade, they have supported the largest single-species crab fishery in the world. Harvests from Chesapeake Bay's 125-year-old fishery - typically 50 to 100 million lb per year - account for half the annual U.S. harvest. Maryland and Virginia share jurisdiction of the Chesapeake, and each has its own regulations governing the blue crab fishery. Fishermen take blue crabs with wire traps ("pots"), trotlines, pound nets and dredges. Male crabs ("Jimmies") and immature females ("Sallies") may be taken as hardshells when their carapace measures 5 in. There are no size limits on mature female crabs ("sooks"). Peeler crabs (taken just before molting) and softshell crabs just after molting) have separate size limits, smaller than those for hardshells. |
Markets: US - Japan - Austria - France - Germany