NORFOLK, Va. — A species once limited to subtropical waters between North Carolina and Florida is now taking hold farther north. Stone crabs have been spotted in the lower Chesapeake Bay, and researchers say they are here to stay.
Warming Waters Expand Habitat
Typically, Virginia’s colder waters kept stone crabs from surviving the winter. But rising ocean temperatures are making it possible for them to establish themselves near Cape Charles and Norfolk.
According to Rom Lipcius, professor at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, stone crabs benefit from the Bay’s 1,800 acres of restored oyster reefs, which serve as crucial nursery habitats.
Evidence They’ve Been Here for Years
Based on recent catches and the age of captured specimens, Lipcius believes stone crabs may have been in the Bay since 2021. Reports from crabbers confirm their increasing presence.
Unlike blue crabs, stone crabs are territorial burrowers that don’t migrate. Lipcius noted that because they occupy different habitats, they are unlikely to compete directly with the region’s iconic blue crab population…