Maryland’s blue crabs — and its crabbers — are having a rough season

Annapolis, md. – In the chesapeake bay of Maryland, two populations are threatened: emblematic blue crab and crabers whose livelihoods depend on this fishing for hundreds of years.

This season, counting investigations on emblematic crustaceans have reached one of their lowest points ever recorded. This increased costs in restaurants at a time when disposable income is rare and inflation increases food costs and other consumer goods.

Luke McFadden, 29, who has been cracking since the age of 18, says he saw a difficult start to the season.

“We are trying to offer them to consumers as much as possible, being able to cover our costs,” he said. “But I understand, you know, it’s difficult there.”

At the home of family crab, Pit Boys, in Annapolis, a dozen crabs will cost customers between $ 75 and $ 140, according to size, according to the director of seafood Charlie George. It is “much higher” than in previous years, an effect that he and others have allocated less crabs in the bay.

According to the Advisory Blue Crab 2025 report, the total population of blue crabs fell to around 238 million, against 317 million last year. This is the second lowest level since the start of the annual winter flirting survey in 1990.

Multiple factors can be blamed, in particular pollution, climate change and invasive blue catfish spreading in Chesapeake bay, said the director general of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Allison Colden. The catfish was introduced into the bay in the 1970s and 1980s to support recreational fishing.

“Since then, they have spread through almost all rivers and streams in the Chesapeake bay region,” said Colden. “They are voracious predators.”