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Research
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Virginia Sea Grant funded research Blue crab reproduction: Changes in age and size at maturity and size fecundity relationships in a reduced population John McConaugha (ODU) The overall objective of this study is to develop a better understanding of the interactions between stock abundance, size and age at maturity, and size-fecundity relationship in the blue crab. Size–fecundity will be based on the number of eggs per brood using both weight and volume techniques. Age at maturity studies will utilize the histological lipofuscin technique to test the hypothesis that increased mortality (i.e. fishing pressure) leads to reduced age at maturity. Lipid reserves will be determined by gravimetric analysis as well as the sulphophospho-vanillin oxidation method. For a species with a documented stock recruitment relationship and essentially only one year class in the spawning stock, preservation of egg production is essential to maintaining a viable population and fishery. Both fishery dependent and independent data indicate that three important parameters known to affect egg production in the blue crab appear to have changed in the last decade: Spawning stock abundance has declined, reduced size and age at maturity, and loss of a size-fecundity relationship. The change in any one of these parameters would be cause for concern, but taken together they represent a sign that the Chesapeake Bay blue crab population has severe problems. |
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Virginia Sea Grant • Virginia Institute of Marine Science |
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