Bypassing Blue Crab Natural Mortality for Profit and Conservation

Proposed Research Project: We proposed to create a method to increase soft crab production using small juvenile crabs collected directly from the lower bay, thereby bypassing the natural mortality that kills most of them before they are big enough for soft crab production. The project can create a sustainable strategy for watermen to participate in both aquaculture and the crab fishery, and retain the cultural and economic benefits of Bay-dependent commerce.

Researcher: Dr. Eric Schott

Expected Outcomes

Best case scenario: Juveniles live and grow well in outdoor cage culture in a variety of locations. Feeding studies reveal that common fouling communities support crab growth, and cage-grown “peelers” produce soft crabs to sell.

Worst case scenario: Juvenile crabs fail to live or grow in their cages. Feeding studies may show that most fouling communities are not good crab feed.

Probable Ancillary Benefits

Success in producing crabs this way for the soft crab market can add revenue and activity for watermen. This may reduce harvest pressure on sub-legal hard crabs.

Results

  1. The assembly of a work team who produced 300 crab cages (Ferry Cove Shellfish staff and a part time technician in the Schott lab). The cages have been deployed at three sites (Baltimore Harbor, Middle River, Tilghman Island) to accumulate biofouling, in preparation for small crabs.
  2. Agreements by collaborators at Univ of MD Eastern Shore (Dr Stephen Tomasetti) and Hampton University (Dr Joseph Ruestle) to collect small juveniles in May and June, and 3) the beginning of a dialogue with fishery regulators in Maryland (Mandy Bromilow, Lynn Fegley). It seems there is apprehension in MD DNR about creating a new aquaculture product and using small juveniles, should this research show promise.

To generate added funds, and to address the need to work with regulators early in the research phase, we submitted a pre-proposal to Maryland Sea Grant for a 2-year project. “A novel soft crab production process for watermen to engage in sustainable aquaculture”. One of the specific objectives of the proposal is to work with regulators.

Additional Funding Sources

We recently learned that a pre-proposal to the Maryland Sea grant for added funds has been invited for a full proposal. About 35% submissions get funded. We truly think we have a good chance, based on the partnerships, plans, and preliminary data. The full proposal will ask for $200,000 over two years. It is due in June. We will submit a pre-proposal to the Northeast Regional Aquaculture Center, due on April 25. The funds there are modest ($25k) but would position us to apply for USDA funds later.