Scientists say there is some encouraging news for Chesapeake Bay blue crabs this year after six consecutive years of below-average juvenile populations.

A federal seafood dispute that Eastern Shore seafood companies warned could devastate crab supply chains has now taken a new turn Monday, with federal regulators officially allowing imports from certain countries to continue.

Scientists studying the Chesapeake Bay’s iconic blue crab say the species is not currently considered overfished, but new research presented to the Chesapeake Bay Commission on Friday suggests the population may be less productive than previously believed.

DENTON, Md. - The 2026 crabbing season is getting underway on Delmarva, but watermen and seafood businesses say rising costs are already creating challenges from the water to the table.

Researchers have published a nearly 40-year study documenting just how prevalent cannibalism is in the Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab population and how protecting shallow-water habitat could play a vital role in sustaining the Bay’s most iconic crustacean.