The blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, has a wide distribution along coastal waters in the western Atlantic from Nova Scotia down to northern Argentina. States along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of the United States (highlighted in blue) harvest blue crabs commercially. Among them, North Carolina is the nation's third largest producer of blue crabs.

More than half the blue crabs harvested in North Carolina are caught from the Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds. The Pamlico Sound is the United States' second largest estuarine ecosystem, and supports more than 90% of North Carolina's commercial and 60% of recreational finfish and shellfish catches. It is also a major fish and shellfish nursery for the entire Atlantic coast.

This web site was created by Lynn Tran at the North Carolina State University, Department of Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education on 7/12/03. Faculty advisor Dr. David Eggleston, NCSU, Department of Marine, Earth, & Atmospheric Sciences. Last updated December 29, 2003 .