AIWAV March Meeting 2025

After a few brief notices by our president Julia the latest AIWAV meeting became a lively fun affair with the presentation by member Irene of the research she has done into the history and state of the infamous blue crab. Irene hails from Baltimore and gave a fascinating history of the culture and community around fishing and eating the blue crab in the Chesapeake Bay.

The presentation moved onto the current situation in the Adriatic with some history of how the arrival of the blue crab probably came with cargo and cruise ships first recorded in the 1980s. She then related some eye watering facts including the vast number of eggs a female can lay and the importance of the water consistency in brackish estuary areas. The impact on the local fishing industries and restaurants was discussed along with some of the remedies already proposed within the local fishing communities and from current level.

Irene kindly prepared some beautiful booklets of traditional East Coast recipes along with a description of the famous Old Bay seasoning mix. There were many ideas about how AIWAV could help to encourage the farming and preparation of the blue crab to make it a viable and successful alternative to the local green crab famously known as Moeche.

The last part of the evening was a lively catch up and discussion of connections and activities amongst the members. Thanks to all who braved the wet weather to come.