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Scientist Gathers Information About Blue Crabs
OCEAN COUNTY - With funding from the Barnegat Bay National Estuary Program, Dr. Jivoff is gathering information about the population status, reproductive output and movement patterns of blue crabs in Barnegat Bay.
Unique numbered tags attached to blue crabs enable Dr. Jivoff to track the crab's movements, but only if everyone who captures the tagged crabs provides important information about the tagged crabs they catch, including the crab's tag number, sex, reproductive status (if it is carrying eggs) and date, depth and location of capture (GPS coordinates, if possible).
What should you do if you find a tagged blue crab? Remove the tag, and record the information it is asking you for, then call the Blue Crab Hotline at 609-896-7755, or simply go to http://njbluecrabs.wordpress.com/ and click on Report Your Crab Info Here. Both recreational and commercial crabbers are encouraged to report this important information. Dr. Jivoff will then contact you about how to get your reward ($5 for a pink tag and $20 for a yellow tag reported).
Blue crabs are the Barnegat Bay's most valuable commercial fishery and one of the most important commercial fisheries in New Jersey and throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Blue crabs also support important recreational fisheries not only in Ocean County, but also throughout the state. Despite the economic importance of blue crabs throughout the state, we have a poor understanding of the status of blue crab populations for most areas. Over the past three decades, blue crab populations in many mid-Atlantic estuaries have declined drastically. These reductions may stem from a number of factors, including loss or degradation of habitat for juveniles, reduced water quality and significant natural and fishing mortality.
The BBNEP recognizes that blue crabs are an important resource and has indicated in the BBNEP Monitoring Program Plan (available at www.bbnep.org/studies.html) that an assessment of the seasonal availability and habitat use patterns associated with finfish and blue crab resources should be conducted for Barnegat Bay. If you would like more information, please visit their Web site at www.bbnep.org or call 732-255-0472.
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