Division of Research and Economic Development FY 17 Q2 Research News FY 17 Q 2 newsletter | Page 12

Future Hatchery Research at PEARL
PEARL Hatchery has applied for the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant
from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on
December 9th, 2016. This grant, if funding is awarded, will be
used to develop soft shell clams, Mya arenaria, as a secondary
shellfish product for aquaculture farms in subtidal water bodies
like the Chesapeake Bay. Research in hatchery production of clam larvae, nursery of
clam seed, and grow out will be conducted. In pilot studies, MSU staff has
successfully cultured soft-shell clams up to 6mm seed size.
Meet PEARL Hatchery Manager Rebekah Borgert
Rebekah graduated from Auburn University with an MS in
Fisheries, after completing her BS in Oceanography from
Florida Institute of Technology. She has been the hatchery
manager since October 2015. Responsibilities include
hatchery operation and facilitating industry-based research
for shellfish aquaculture.
Kylie Curtis, Amber DeMarr,
and Jamie Rice,
Hatchery Technicians
PEARL Crab Survey Update for January DRED Newsletter
Researched by Adam Copeland
The George Abbe Blue Crab Survey has been a feature of PEARL’s
research program for decades. Begun by PEARL’s first scientist, George
Abbe, in 1968, each year from June – November researchers deploy and
fish crab pots in the Chesapeake Bay in Calvert County, and also in the
Patuxent River. The crabs are counted, determined to be male or female,
measured and weighed, and then released back into the water. The survey
is the
only independent population survey of blue crabs in the state.
Such long term data sets are incredibly important when monitoring wild
populations and it is with generous support from the Dominion
Foundation that PEARL is able to continue building this data set.
On the 48th year of data collection, we observed continued
increases in positive population metrics since particularly low values in
2014. Total crabs caught increased by 9% from 4.53 to 4.94 crabs per
pot. ‘Crabs per pot’ is a measure of catch per unit effort, and allows for
comparisons between years when different numbers of pots are used.
Perhaps more importantly, the percentage of crabs caught that were of
legal size, 5 inches and larger, increased from 48% to 58%. Besides
indicating an increase in the crabs that can be brought to market, larger
crabs produce more offspring. Larger females especially can produce
exponentially greater numbers of eggs. More offspring will contribute to
the population continuing to grow in subsequent years. In a similar vein,
the average size of male crabs, the most valuable part of the crab fishery,
increased by 1/4 inch from 4 3/4 to 5 inches. (continue of page 13)
Summer interns collecting crabs
on the Chesapeake Bay near
Calvert Cliffs
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