Not according to the Bay Journal:
The annual winter dredge survey, which is used to estimate blue crab numbers in the Bay, suggests that the crab population still shows no sign of rebounding from the low level of abundance that has marked most of the last decade.The total number of crabs estimated to be overwintering in the Chesapeake Bay in 2007 was similar to the abundance observed in 2006, but abundance in 2007 remained below the 17-year survey average.
The abundance of young-of-the-year crabs--those less than 2 inches across the carapace--declined significantly in 2007, and is among the lowest levels observed since the survey began in 1990.
UMCES reported this past fall that the blue crab populations were stabilizing. Looks like they may be in conflict with this report, from the Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee. I'll have to wait until this report is released to figure out what exactly the deal is (if it ever comes out; they don't even have last year's report posted on the site, unless they've changed URLs).
