Callinectes sapidus 

 Adult 



5 cm 



(fromGoode 1884) 



Common Name: blue crab 



Scientific Name: Callinectes sapidus 



Other Common Names: jimmies (males), sooks (adult 



females), common edible crab, sallies, spongers, 



sponge crab, berry crab, soft shell, soft shelled crab, 



hard crab; crabe bleu (French), cangrejo azul, jaiba 



azu/ (Spanish) (Fischer 1978, NOAA 1985). 



Classification (Williams et al. 1989) 



Phylum: Arthropoda 



Class: Crustacea 



Order: Decapoda 



Family: Portunidae 



Value 



Commercial : Commercial blue crab landings have 

 been reported from the Gulf of Mexico since 1880, 

 although the data are not continuous prior to 1948 

 (Steele and Perry 1990). With the introduction of the 

 wire crab trap and improved shipping methods came 

 an increased availablility of fresh raw product, which 

 stimulated processing capacity, market development, 

 and consumer demand. Since 1984, Gulf landings 

 have increased greatly, at least partially as a result of 

 increased fishing effort. Declining catches and in- 

 creased regulation of otherfisheries may have prompted 

 many fishermen to turn to crabbing to supplement their 

 income. 



The commercial value of the Gulf of Mexico blue crab 

 fishery is difficult to estimate. Many blue crab fisher- 

 men use unsurveyed market channels which lead to 

 under-reporting of landings (Roberts and Thompson 

 1982, Keithlyetal. 1988). In additon, large numbers of 

 blue crabs are harvested as incidental catch during 

 shrimping operations (Adkins 1 972b, Steele and Perry 

 1990). These crabs are sold, eaten, given away, or 



swapped for supplies and thus not reported as land- 

 ings. With this under-reporting noted, the following 

 landings are presented. In 1994, 24,123 mt of blue 

 crab, valued at $32.5 million, were reported in the Gulf 

 region (NMFS 1997). The contribution of the Gulf of 

 Mexico to total U.S. blue crab landings reached a peak 

 of 38% in 1987, but has remained below 30% since 

 1990 . The annual proportional contribution of each 

 Gulf State to harvest is variable (Perry pers. comm.). 

 However, since 1 972, Louisiana has consistently con- 

 tributed the highest proportion of Gulf landings, fol- 

 lowed by Florida (Steele and Perry 1 990). The propor- 

 tional contribution of each state to the total Gulf harvest 

 from 1980 to 1994 is Louisiana 59.9%, Florida 18.0%, 

 Texas 15.0%, Alabama 4.9%, and Mississippi 2.2% 

 (Perry pers. comm.). In 1994, 98.9% of the Gulf of 

 Mexico blue crab harvest was by crab pots (traps), 

 whereas only 1.1% was by trawl (Perry pers. comm.), 

 and these proportions are consistent with previous 

 years (Perry et al. 1984). The seasonal variation in 

 harvest is similar among the Gulf States. Highest 

 catches usually occur from May through August, with 

 peaks in June and July. 



There is a tremendous domestic consumer demand for 

 blue crab, and the landings are believed to be totally 

 consumed by the domestic market. The main commer- 

 cial outlets for blue crab are seafood restaurants and 

 retail seafood markets. Approximately 75% of the hard 

 crab landings are sold as processed product, the other 

 25% are assumed to be sold live for boiling or steaming 

 (Perry etal. 1984). There is also a small soft shell crab 

 fishery, which supports local demand for fresh soft 

 shell crabs. Soft shell crabs demand a higher price, 

 and are most abundant during the late spring, summer, 

 and fall, when crabs are actively molting (Perry pers. 



97 



