Ton of dead crabs...

[mikemill]

So dove Fort Ross, California yesterday and we had about 3 pairs of divers going out and all of remarked that there were a lot of dead crabs down there. Quite a few looked like they were in good condition (no cracks in the shell, no legs lost, etc). Anyone know what would cause this?

 

[mikerault]

Any red tide? Or, a discharge of some sort from a large boat?

 

[mikemill]

We had the algal bloom pretty recently. Not sure it is the harmful kind or not.

 

[mikerault]

The only way to tell would be to have a amrine biologist perfrom a necropsy on one of the crabs I guess.

 

[Peter_C]

They were most likely molting with a few dead ones thrown in from the biological changes.

Ben sent me this link: Fish Division: MRP: Shellfish Project - Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

 

[mikemill]

That is really cool, thanks Peter.

 

[Peter_C]

BTW we saw tons of live ones running from us in the sand at the beach. They are pretty fast. Ben the cowboy was trying to heard them when he ran into my scooter with his.

 

[mikemill]

Did you do a sobriety check after that?