Status and Management of the Blue Crab Fishery in the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Management of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus fishery in the Gulf of Mexico is the responsibility of the individual states under the purview of a regional management plan. States generally follow the "2-S" system of management, placing emphasis on size and sex. Despite management policies, harvest and juvenile abundances remain in decline. A significant trend toward decreasing harvest began in the early 2000s, with landings below average in 13 of the 20 years from 2000 to 2019. Since 2010, the fishery has maintained a lower but relatively stable harvest. There have been significant decreases in numbers of late-stage juveniles in fishery-independent trawl surveys, while numbers of megalopae and early juveniles have not exhibited declines. Postsettlement mortality is potentially driven by climate-related hydrological processes that structure the biotic community (predator guild) and nearshore habitats. Diversity of predators, few predation-free refuges, and a lack of seasonality in predation likely contribute to high regional mortality. Factors that influence quality and quantity of available refuge may ultimately control abundance. Although genetics data describe the population as panmictic, geographic differences in coastal climate and hydrological processes may act to structure populations. Separation of stocks according to ecozones may provide a more suitable approach to population delineation. The 2011 stock assessment divided the population into eastern and western regions based on confounding information on genetics, physiographic features that limit larval transport, variations in climate, and migration of female crabs along the west coast of Florida. There is concern that the population is undergoing Gulf of Mexico-wide changes in biomass associated with regional climate regime shifts that may alter the resiliency of the stock. Whether the shift to a more favorable climate phase would reverse the declining trends is unknown. Changes in population levels could be rapid given the high juvenile mortality and short generation time as well as the importance of climate in structuring habitat.

Evidence for a male bias in Atlantic blue crab pot‐based sampling

“…2010; Perry et al. 2022). Maintaining balanced sex ratios within populations is important for their sustainability and to avoid potential impacts such as those related to male‐focused harvest, specifically when the commercial fishery is pot‐based (Carver et al.…”

“…Management approaches for the blue crab frequently rely on an understanding of sex-specific abundances within populations, often leading to restrictions on female harvest (Eggleston et al 2009;Bunnell et al 2010;Perry et al 2022). Maintaining balanced sex ratios within populations is important for their sustainability and to avoid potential impacts such as those related to male-focused harvest, specifically when the commercial fishery is pot-based (Carver et al 2005;Ogburn et al 2019).…”

Gafftopsail Catfish in Texas estuaries: Population trends and ecosystem implications

“…Notably, blue crab populations in much of the northern Gulf of Mexico have experienced declining trends over the past decades, specifically related to depressed juvenile abundance (Perry et al. 2022). This has been especially apparent in Texas waters (Sutton and Wagner 2007).…”

“…This could include competition with species that share a similar trophic role, such as Hardhead Catfish (Pensinger et al 2021), and increased predation on species such as blue crabs Callinectes sapidus and penaeid shrimp that are both valuable fishery organisms and important prey items for many other species. Notably, blue crab populations in much of the northern Gulf of Mexico have experienced declining trends over the past decades, specifically related to depressed juvenile abundance (Perry et al 2022). This has been especially apparent in Texas waters (Sutton and Wagner 2007).…”

Reproductive physiology, growth performances, and physiological responses of Puntius sophore: effect of probiotic, biofloc and stocking densities

“…Various authors reported similar linear relationships between these parameters while conducting a study on different sh species, viz. Perry and Vanderkooy (2015), Hema et al (2012), Bithy et al (2012), Singh (2009), Somdutt and Kumar (2004). Although these factors were not taken into account for this study due to the small number of female specimens with different ovarian-maturation stages, other factors such as condition, Gonadosomatic index, and OW were counted.…”