SEAFOOD PRODUCTION

A prominent producer and processor of seafood, Maryland is a national leader in supplying blue crabs and soft clams. The Chesapeake Bay produces 50 percent of the United State's total blue crab harvest. Each year, the Maryland seafood industry contributes some $400 million to the State's economy. Annual commercial landings have averaged 44.4 million pounds since 1990.

Blue Crabs. Mature blue crabs are five to seven inches across and are plentiful from late spring through fall. Soft shell crabs are blue crabs that have outgrown and therefore shed their hard outer shell and whose new shells have not yet hardened. Soft shell crabs generally are available from May through September.


1997

COMMERCIAL LANDINGS

DOCKSIDE VALUE

Crabs* 41,306,361 lbs. $37,860,607
Finfish 14,970,099 lbs. $ 7,964,519
Oysters 1,507,850 lbs. $ 4,709,785
Soft Clams 252,231 lbs. $ 1,680,477
Total 58,036,541 lbs. $52,215,388

Source: Fisheries Services, Department of Natural Resources.

Maryland Aquaculture
Maryland at a Glance

Maryland Manual On-Line

e-mail: mdmanual@mdarchives.state.md.us

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