Due to warmer waters caused by climate change and more habitats, stone crab larvae are surviving in the Chesapeake Bay and reaching adulthood at rates we haven’t previously seen. The crustacean is native to coastal and offshore waters from South America to North Carolina. They are not considered invasive in the bay, this is just an extent of their territory. They’re also not predicted to be harmful to the environment (for the time being), but they are expected to change the crabbing industry for the better.
The float down
Stone crab larvae have historically been found in the Chesapeake Bay, but due to the larvae’s tropical nature, they die before adulthood due to water temperatures colder than they’re accustomed to. Due to climate change, the bay is warmer, and the larvae are making it into adulthood. Oyster reefs make great stone crab nurseries which is why large oyster restoration projects have given stone crabs a leg up, unintentionally creating more environments for them to live in. Since stone crabs and blue crabs eat and live similarly, there is the possibility of competition between the species. So far ,this hasn’t been an issue due to the stone crab’s current recorded numbers in the bay. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) has the first 4 individuals found in the Chesapeake Bay in tanks in their Gloucester Point Seawater Research lab. The crabs were caught in Norfolk’s Willoughby Spit by waterman Ty Farrington over the summer. A stone crab prior to this summer was documented in the bay but perished most likely due to cold temperatures. Why are tropical crabs being found further north than usual so significant?
Why it Matters
This could be a crabbing industry game changer. William & Mary’s Batten School and VIMS professor Rom Lipcius believes stone crabs in the Chesapeake Bay may be beneficial to crabbers since it adds another fishery resource for them. Stone crab claws can be harvested without killing the animal. In plants in Florida, the claws are harvested from live crabs who are left to molt and released back into the environment once their claws grow back. Blue crabs, however, need to be fully dispatched to collect their claws. Stone crabs can be caught and released over and over, benefiting humans and keeping them in the bay simultaneously which is better for the environment and industry then taking crabs out, dispatching them, and eating them without replacement. If a population of stone crabs becomes stable enough, Virginians can enjoy them for less. If a Virginian were to currently purchase stone crabs from Florida , they would be looking at around $30/lbs for medium crab claws before shipping . If a stable population of stone crab existed in Virginia then the supply would be local and shipping fees would cost less. From Florida to Virginia, medium crab claws for six people are $210 with a discount, the current discount knocked it down to $168 at Billy’s Stone Crab. The shipping cost is nearly $80! If stone crabs became a reliable source Virginians can access the crabs for cheaper with less transportation emissions and costs.
Let’s go crabbing then!
No, this is not advised according to professor Lipcius, especially in the Hampton Roads area where only licensed crabbers and homeowners with docks can set traps. Professor Lipcius also believes if females are found, stone crabs could potentially join blue crabs and shrimp in the seafood industry and requests to be contacted at rom@vims.edu with any information on stone crab catches or sightings in Virginian waters. For sightings in Maryland, legal catchers and observers are encouraged to report their findings to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Reports can be submitted through the state’s wildlife reporting system or by emailing sarah.witcher1@maryland.gov, Witcher is a Maryland based DNR biologist who monitors rare and expanding species in the state’s waters. The stone crabs in the Gloucester Point lab are male, so a breeding population isn’t confirmed yet, but it is predicted and expected to change the crabbing industry for the better. The seafood industry is one of the oldest in the country and one of the state’s largest. As of 2024, watermen harvest 50 commercially valuable species including but not limited to menhaden, blue catfish, blue crab, oysters, and more, from around 630,000 acres of water. The hope here is that stone crabs could join this list one day. According to College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science research, ‘forty-five counties and cities in Virginia have substantial economic dependency on the seafood industry.’ Stone crabs have the potential adding to this economy, in turn, adding newer, richer flavors to the menu and the industry.
Wrap up
Stone crab larvae are surviving in the Chesapeake Bay due to climate change, allowing them to reach adulthood. This past summer, a waterman in Norfolk caught several stone crabs, 4 of those reside in a VIMS lab in Gloucester Point, Virginia. These male crabs are proof that stone crabs can survive in the Chesapeake Bay and once females are confirmed in the bay, this discovery could lead to new jobs and economic gain as well as a delicious meal. Virginia is a seafood reliant state, and stone crabs could be a game changer for local and state economies. For now, the changes in the industry are hypothetical and we shouldn’t count our crabs before they’ve metamorphosize, but for the time being, it’s an exciting possibility for industries and seafood connoisseurs alike.
