Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources has released the results of its annual winter dredge survey and reports a healthy spawning stock. The survey, conducted since 1990 by Maryland’s DNR and the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, counts female, male, and juvenile crabs. In order to sustain a continuing population, the goal is to conserve more than 70 million females. This year’s count exceeded both that and the long term average. Male crab numbers also exceeded the long term average but the number of juveniles dropped by almost half from last year. Juveniles are the group most significantly affected by environmental factors. More details can be found here https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2020/05/20/chesapeake-bay-blue-crab-population-shows-healthy-spawning-stock/