Blue Crab Management Information

Blue Crab Annual Update

Results of the 2018 benchmark stock assessment indicate the blue crab stock is overfished and overfishing is occurring. The Amendment 3 adaptive management framework will be used to immediately address the continued declining trends in the blue crab stock. The division plans to develop recommendations that would have resulted in higher harvest reductions with a greater probability of achieving sustainable harvest based on 2018 assessment results and apply them to the current fishery in lieu of an updated stock assessment. For more information, contact Robert Corbett at Robert.Corbett@deq.nc.gov or McLean Seward at Mclean.Seward@deq.nc.gov.