Rennie Holt

The Potential for Soft Shell Crab Production Utilizing Heated Effluents from Power Plants in the Galveston Bay System

Blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, stocked in cages at two different densities both with and without artificial habitats were compared for growth and survival in a power plant discharge canal and in a pond. Survival was higher for crabs in the pond but growth was significantly greater for those in the discharge canal. Artificial habitats increased survival of crabs cultured in the discharge canal but had no effect on those caged in the pond. In the laboratory no significant differences were found in weight, carapace width, or survival of crabs selected at random in regards to molting cycle...