DAVID GALLOP, RIGHT, SHOWS TURANO THE FEISTY 

 JIMMY CRABS. 



TURANO CHECKS OUT THE CATCH AT WILLY PHILLIPS' DOCK 

 ON THE ALBEMARLE SOUND. 



— and open forums were held in Swan 

 Quarter, Manteo, Morehead and 

 Wilmington. 



"I didn't want to lead the meetings," 

 says Turano, "I waited for the crabbers to 

 state their ideas." 



From the forums, five research 

 priorities emerged: stock enhancement, 

 population assessment, blue crab biology, 

 shedding technology and social and 

 economic impacts of the blue crab fishery. 



If the topics sound wide open, 

 consider Phillips' take on the situation: 

 "We're operating in a complete unknown" 

 regarding how the crabbing industry affects 

 the blue crab population, he says. 



Twenty-seven proposals for research 

 projects have been received and are under 

 review for funding. All research priorities 

 are addressed in the proposals. 



North Carolina is the top producer of 

 blue crabmeat in the nation, with harvests 

 as high as 60 million pounds annually, 

 according to David Green, director of the 

 NC State University Center for Marine 

 Science and Technology. 



Last year's hard crab harvest, 

 however, was down to around 38.8 million 

 pounds, according to the N.C. Division of 

 Marine Fisheries (DMF). But Lynn Henry, 

 a marine biologist with DMF, says a one- 

 year drop may not signal a downward 

 trend. Crab harvests historically are 

 unpredictable, he adds. 



"We absolutely need to know more 

 about crab biology," he says, and agrees 

 that having crabbers involved in well- 

 planned research can be beneficial. 



Marc Basnight, president pro tempore 

 of the N.C. Senate, was instrumental in 

 initiating the Blue Crab Research Project. 

 "The blue crab fishery is an important part 

 of our fishing economy, but we really know 

 very little about it. This research will help 

 us do a better job of protecting the blue 

 crab fishery and maintaining it for the 

 future," says Basnight. 



A major concern of the crabbing 

 industry is the effect of foreign imports on 

 the state's blue crab market. Out of more 

 than 40 crab plants that once operated in 

 North Carolina, only about 20 operate 



today. And Phillips tells Turano of yet 

 another that will be closing soon after 50 

 years in business. 



Imported meat is cheaper, making it 

 difficult for local processors to compete. 

 Taste tests and forums conducted by North 

 Carolina Sea Grant and the U.S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture show consumers prefer 

 fresh, local seafood but are often unaware 

 of the origins of the crabmeat they buy. 



Imports come from species other than 

 the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, and are 

 chemically preserved and whitened, 

 Phillips says. And while imports are 

 supposed to meet certain safety standards, 

 he maintains that enforcement is inadequate 

 to ensure those standards are met. 



Given the many problems confronting 

 the industry, Phillips says he is delighted 

 with the Blue Crab Research Program and 

 with Turano' s eagerness to learn from 

 crabbers. 



As part of Turano' s continuing 

 education, Phillips takes him to meet fellow 

 crabber David Gallop described by Phillips 

 as "just the best." Continued 



COASTWATCH 33 



