Analyzing Impacts on Blue Crab Populations

The Galveston Bay Estuary is a complex ecosystem composed of numerous species and utilized by multiple user groups. It is envisioned that existing stock assessments be modified with environmental input data, utilizing an ECOPATH with ECOSIM model. This should improve our understanding of how ecosystems function in response to both anthropogenic and natural disturbances. This project is aimed at modifying a current blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) stock assessment to include other ecosystem effects such as reduced freshwater inflow, habitat loss, water quality, and predator-prey relationships. The Galveston Bay Estuary Program, which brings together local stakeholders, state agencies and experts from a variety of fields, is the ideal venue for setting up such a model.