The Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) is a vital species in coastal South Carolina, both ecologically and economically. They form a critical link in the coastal food web, eating plants and small animals while serving as prey for larger animals such as fish, dolphins, and sea turtles (Guillory & Elliot, 2011; Hines, 2007). Blue crabs also support one of the state’s oldest and largest fisheries, with landings valued at over $6 million annually. While the annual value of blue crab landings in South Carolina is at near-record highs, the catch of blue crabs has declined in recent years, reaching a 50-year low in 2021.
This research project will seek to quantify the habitat use and movement patterns of blue crabs in the Charleston Harbor estuary system during the fall season, explored through the use of mark-recapture studies, to improve our understanding of the role of migration on the availability of blue crabs for commercial and recreational harvest.
A second objective will be to build a framework for improving working relationships between SCDNR, the commercial blue crab industry, and recreational crabbers that will engender open dialogue about the current state of research and potential management actions.