SCDNR Wildlife Biologist Graham Wagner handles a mature male blue crab while collecting data on location, water conditions, specimen size, and molt stage.
Atlantic blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) move throughout the estuarine system in response to changing life stages and environmental conditions. Understanding when and why these movements occur is critical to developing effective and sustainable fishery practices and tools.
While the annual economic value of blue crab harvest in S.C. is at near-record highs, the harvest of blue crabs has declined in recent years. With this project, researchers aim to support the Atlantic blue crab fishery by gaining insights into the habitat usage and movement patterns of blue crabs in the Charleston area. They do this by catching and tagging crabs throughout the area and collecting recapture data from recreational and commercial crabbers. Crabbers who report the catch of tagged blue crabs to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) can receive SCDNR swag or a chance to win a cash prize.
Sampling sites on the Ashley River, one portion of the study area. At each location, pots are set in the main stem and in the creeks to sample for crabs across multiple habitats. Map courtesy of Ade McCullough, Research Assistant at SCDNR.
Despite impacts from weather events, including tropical storm Debby, around 1,500 blue crabs have been tagged in the Charleston area from the start of the sampling period in July 2024 to the most recent sampling event in December 2024. The project team has received 270 recapture reports from recreational and commercial crabbers.
SCDNR Wildlife Biologist Marisa ValeCruz measures and tags a blue crab.
This initiative is part of a two-year Consortium-funded research project entitled “A collaborative effort to understand the movements of Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) in support of improved sustainable fisheries management” led by Principal Investigator Daniel Sasson, Ph.D., Assistant Marine Scientist, Marine Resources Research Institute, SCDNR.
Co-Principal Investigators include:
- Michael Kendrick, Ph.D., Associate Marine Scientist, Marine Resources Research Institute, SCDNR.
- Jeff Brunson, Crustacean Manager, Office of Fisheries Management, SCDNR.
- Matt Perkinson, Saltwater Fishing Outreach Coordinator, Coastal Reserves and Outreach, SCDNR.
SCDNR Wildlife Biologist Graham Wagner counts blue crabs in a crab pot in the Ashley River watershed.
The project team has been supported by the efforts of local commercial crabbing industry members, including Marvin’s Seafood, Carrigg’s Seafood, and Welch’s Seafood.
Sampling will reconvene in the summer and fall of 2025, providing researchers with data that will be used to inform potential fishery management actions, such as the development of new crabbing practices or equipment, and support the crabbing industry in South Carolina.
Learn more about this and other current Consortium-funded research projects.
If you have recaptured a tagged Atlantic blue crab, you may report it with SCDNR. You may also contact the project team to get involved in their tagged blue crab search.