Crab prices up despite population increase

Added: 2026-05-21

[00:00:00][music] >> So, welcome back. A new report says there has been a big increase in the number of crabs in the Chesapeake, but it doesn't necessarily mean you should expect to pay less this summer.

[00:00:09]>> Fox 5's Josh Rosenthal is live in Bethesda tonight to explain why.

[00:00:16]Hey guys, we're going to talk prices.

[00:00:18]We're going to talk about this new report, but first, can we just briefly talk about how nice it is to be eating crabs again in Crofton here at Bethesda Crab House.

[00:00:30]You just got back to Maryland, 6 and 1/2 hour drive. You're like, "First thing I'm doing, I'm getting crabs."

[00:00:34]>> That's right. How were the crabs?

[00:00:35]>> Absolutely wonderful. Anybody wants crabs, this is the place to come.

[00:00:41]All right, let's talk about those new numbers. This week, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources released the annual Chesapeake Bay blue crab winter dredge survey, and the results, in a lot of ways, are encouraging.

[00:00:52]Researchers estimate a total of 349 million blue crabs in the bay in 2026.

[00:00:57]It's a 46% increase over last year's estimate. The survey also estimated 228 million juvenile blue crabs, which is a 121% increase over last year. Those are nice numbers, with both the total figure and the juvenile figure at their highest level since 2019.

[00:01:15]Still though, it's not all good news.

[00:01:17]The dredge survey found that adult female crab numbers are down 25% year-over-year. And if you're expecting cheaper than usual crabs this Memorial Day weekend, well, think again. At Bethesda Crab House, they're selling a dozen large crabs for $155.

[00:01:33]A dozen mediums go for 130. It's a slight increase over last year, and one of the reasons for it, according to general manager Yen Lee, is the cost of fuel.

[00:01:43]Of course, the cost continue to go up just because the gas prices are so high.

[00:01:47]So, the transport cost, you know, weigh on the cost of the crabs. I mean, even crabs that are shipped, they're you know, they got they're they're flown in, you know, air fuel's are expensive. And you know, the crabs that you picked up, they're being driven. So the cost of gas alone, you know, has to be paid for, you know.

[00:02:07]Prices aside, leaders say that the quality of the crabs has been very good.

[00:02:12]If you want to read the full dredge survey, lots of information in there that we couldn't get to here. We've got you covered. We posted a link over on fox5dc.com.

[00:02:21]Gasp.