Collecting blue crabs and shrimp was quite an adventure for me! I enjoyed using the push net through the sea grass and placing the crabs and shrimp in our buckets. Getting stuck in the mud and falling in the water was my least favorite part of the day. I did have fun catching crabs by using raw chicken necks on fishing lines tied to sticks, and chasing Seagulls away from the bait.
Who We Are
What We Did
We collected blue crabs and brown shrimp at the Oso Bay turnaround. Two of us maneuvered the push net through the muddy sea grass and two others helped us collect, sort, and deposit the blue crabs and brown shrimp into the designated buckets. Kaitlyn set up crab bait by using raw chicken necks tied to fishing line which were attached to sticks. She placed the bait along the sea grass to attract the crabs. We were successful in collecting both crabs and shrimp that day. My least favorite part of the day was when I got stuck in the mud causing loss of balance and falling in the water. Other than the minor set back I did manage to have an interesting learning experience.
What We Learned
- the scientific name for blue crab is Callinectes sapidus
- how to hold the crab to avoid being pinched
- this project is utilizing the blue crabs to investigate the non-lethal and lethal effect of two insecticides deposited into the bays and estuaries by agricultural runoff
- how to maneuver getting out of the mud without falling into the water (lol!!)
Questions We Have
Are the blue crabs exposed to the insecticides safe for human consumption?
Connections to Teaching
Exploring and engaging in authentic experiences leads to effective teaching and learning.