Blue Crab Numbers in Chesapeake Bay Dip to Second Lowest Level on Record

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The population of blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay has dropped to the second lowest level since record-keeping began, according to results released Friday from the annual winter dredge survey conducted jointly by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

This year’s survey estimated the total crab population at 238 million — just above the all-time low of 226 million recorded in 2022. The 2025 count marks another troubling milestone for one of the Bay’s most iconic species, with significant declines seen across all age groups.

Adult male crabs fell to 26 million, adult females to 108 million, and juveniles to 103 million — all significantly down from 2024 numbers, which were slightly below average.

The blue crab population fluctuates naturally each year due to changes in weather, predation, and habitat conditions. But scientists say the long-term trend is worrying, especially in light of habitat loss, rising populations of invasive predators like blue catfish, and the growing impacts of climate change and pollution.

“The red flags are flying for blue crabs,” said Allison Colden, Maryland Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, in a statement. “With more than five years of below average crab numbers, it is clear that changing conditions in the Bay are undermining the current management of this important species.”

Blue crabs are managed jointly by Maryland and Virginia, and their continued decline is prompting renewed calls for stronger protections. A comprehensive stock assessment — the first since 2011 — is currently underway and expected to be completed by late 2026. Scientists hope the study will help pinpoint the causes of the species’ downturn and provide concrete management solutions.

Environmental advocates are also urging Congress to fully fund federal and state agencies that monitor and protect the Chesapeake Bay’s resources.

“The winter dredge survey provides a snapshot in time,” Colden said. “The upcoming comprehensive stock assessment will give us a more complete picture of the impacts of environmental threats to blue crabs, and what Maryland and Virginia can do to better protect them. Managers must heed those assessment results, and act swiftly to protect the opportunity for the next generation to experience the joy of a summertime crab feast.”