The Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab population increased 60 percent in a year and is at its highest level since 1997.

The 2009-2010 baywide, winter dredge survey estimates the population rose to 658 million crabs. The survey is the primary one that the states use assess the condition of the Chesapeake Bay blue crab population.

The substantial rise in abundance of mature crabs and juveniles was clearly a response of the crab population to unprecedented management actions, such as the closure of the winter dredge fishery, by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission and partner agencies.

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