Maryland Blue Crab Science at the Smithsonian

While it is well known that blue crabs are a staple ingredient in many Mid-Atlantic diets, they are also an integral part of the Chesapeake Bay’s ecosystem and economy. The long-term research of the blue crab at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center looks to not only better understand blue crab migration and its role in the Bay, but to have that knowledge translated into sound management policy so that they continue to thrive in the future. In this video, Eric Johnson, a fisheries ecologist at the research center, explains the Smithsonian’s role in keeping this species and all of its dependents healthy through migration tracking practices.