December 1, 2014 — Calamari may have company. Another ocean-dwelling species, crab, has scuttled into a prominent position in the Rhode Island seafood scene, providing a welcome boost for beleaguered southern New England lobstermen.
In particular Jonah crab, a long-ignored species, has increased in abundance and landings in local ports over the past several years, just as American seafood consumers have begun to develop a taste for the crustaceans.
Between 1995 and 2012, the most recent year of statistics, the Atlantic Jonah crab catch more than quintupled, from 1.9 million pounds to 11.5 million pounds, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Massachusetts led the way with 65 percent of the 2012 catch, with Rhode Island second at 28 percent. In 2012, the combined 10.8 million pounds of Jonah crab landed in those two states was estimated to be worth $7.9 million.
And fishermen say those numbers have only grown in the two years since.
“The population appears to be exploding,” said Newport-based offshore lobsterman David Spencer. “Landings continue to go up. The season gets longer. The spatial distribution gets wider and prices remain constant. It has been a wonderful economic opportunity for a near-shore and offshore lobster fishery that was experiencing difficulties.”
Exactly why fishermen are catching so many more Jonah crabs now is not entirely clear.
Many believe rising ocean temperatures are involved, driving species north and east toward colder water.
This dynamic has been attributed to growing New England populations of other typically more Southern species such as croaker and butterfish.
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