oxygen levels for mr blue

[stuff]

does any one know the desired ppm of oxygen for the blue claw, i have a temperature and oxygen meter and would like to know the ideal range for blues, seems a few year  ago 2003 the oxygen level was quite low in barnagate bay which impacted the crab catch that year, of course no one advertised that cause it would hurt the recreation crabbing ,but no one was catching any   thanks in advance

[jack1747]

Good Question

[Black Irish]

I could not find much info on the subject. It appears that crabs move to shallower water during periods of low dissolved oxygen.

Excerpt from http://www.mvcommission.org/doc.php/Blue%20Crab%20Report.pdf?id=18

'15. L. Pihl, S. Baden, R. Diaz (91) Effects of periodic hypoxia on distribution of
demersal fish. Marine Biology 108: 349-360
Several species studied migrated out of deeper (over 10m) water during hypoxia and
returned after the event ended.
Blue crab survived in 14 to 25% Oxygen saturation.
Hypoxia below 2ppm or 28% sat for 6, 14 and 6 day periods was monitored during
summer.
Adult crabs found at all depth ranges sampled in June. First hypoxic event did not
change their presence. During second event crab density decreased in sampling sites.
No significant changes in blood haemocyanin found except for deepest sampling zone
during and after the second hypoxic event.'

Lots of other interesting information in the report worth reading.