With blue crab abundance down, scientists say fall storms key to recovery
SEAFOODNEWS.COM [News Journal] by Molly Murray August 15, 2014
WILMINGTON, Del. — When you look at $200 plus for a bushel of blue crabs, shake your head and say "no way," there's just one thing to do: Blame it on the weather.
And we're not talking about the chilly winter of 2014, either, at least not here in Delaware Bay.
Think back to September and October. That's the weather that really matters for blue crabs in estuaries like the Delaware and Chesapeake bays.
No big northeast winds from tropical storms or hurricanes.
But in late summer of 2011 — the last banner year for blue crabs in the region — there were two back-to-back storms, Hurricane Irene in late August and Tropical Storm Lee a few weeks later.
Both brought big winds from the northeast and coastal flooding, ideal conditions for getting baby blue crabs ...
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