Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee Publications

Showing 1 - 23 of 23 publications

2025 Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Advisory Report

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Each year, from December to March, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Virginia Institute of Marine Science conduct the Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey to estimate the abundance of blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay. The estimated abundance of mature females from the Winter Dredge Survey and female harvest estimates from each jurisdiction are used to assess blue crab stock status relative to female-specific management reference points. The Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee (CBSAC) meets each spring to review the results of the latest Winter Dredge Survey and the previous season’s harvest estimates to develop management recommendations for the jurisdictions. This report summarizes the 2025 Winter Dredge Survey and 2024 harvest data discussed at the May 15, 2025, CBSAC meeting.

View document [PDF, 1.0 MB] 2025 Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Advisory Report

Evaluation of Environmental Factors Influencing Blue Crab Populations

Publication date: Not listed

This study, conducted by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, applies models to understand the influence of climatic, water quality, and biotic variables on estimates of key indices of blue crab recruitment for 1990‐2017. The published results can be accessed here: https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/cjfas-2019-0439

View document [PDF, 2.3 MB] Evaluation of Environmental Factors Influencing Blue Crab Populations

CBSAC 2020 Blue Crab Advisory Report

Publication date: Not listed

Annual report published by the Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee on the status of the blue crab population in the Chesapeake Bay and management advice for Bay jurisdictions.

Blue Crab Management Outcome: Evaluation of Allocation-based Management Framework

Publication date: Not listed

The Blue Crab Management Outcome under the 2014 Chesapeake Watershed Agreement states that in addition to managing for a stable and productive crab fishery, the partnership will evaluate an allocation-based management framework by 2018. An allocation-based management framework would designate a numerical total allowable catch of blue crabs for the Chesapeake Bay and allocate a percentage of the total allowable catch to each of the three fishery management agencies, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) and the Potomac River Fishery Commission (PRFC). This document describes the progress made towards the Blue Crab Management Outcome evaluation of an allocation-based management framework as of September 2017.

View document [PDF, 128.2 KB] Blue Crab Management Outcome: Evaluation of Allocation-based Management Framework