Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) Spermathecae Performance in Three Tributaries Of The Upper Chesapeake Bay
Yushinta Fujaya, Robert Aguilar, Roberta Bardelli, Kimberly D. Richie, Matthew B Ogburn

Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Hasanuddin University, Makassar 90245, Indonesia-
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD 21037, USA
Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi, 22, 90123, Palermo, Italy

Abstract

The blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, is a key species in the Chesapeake Bay that plays an integral ecological, economic, and sociological role. However, reports suggest that there has been a significant decline in the population of these crabs as well as the recruits per spawning female.
The objective of this study was to analyze the current state of blue crab spermathecae performance in three tributaries of the upper Chesapeake Bay that vary in male crab exploitation rate.
Mature blue crabs were collected from June to October in the Rhode, Choptank, and Patuxent rivers from fishery-independent trawls and commercial trotlines. Female crabs were brought to the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) laboratory alive and male crabs were returned to the rivers after being recorded. The female crabs were stored in the freezer (-20oC) until further investigation. There were 180 female crabs used in this study. The parameters observed were the maturity stages of the ovary, spermathecae index, spermathecae fullness, and sperm count. The results indicate that there is variation by tributary.

Keywords: Blue Crab, Spermathecae, Chesapeake Bay, Sperm count

Topic: Sustainable Aquaculture and Fisheries