Blue crabs and the Bay will be the topic for the Sat., Feb. 22 Sip & Socialize speaker event at Phillips Wharf Environmental Center on Tilghman Island. Phillips Wharf’s newest staff member and marine estuarine scientist Dr. Kristen Lycett will lead the discussion on the reasons for the blue crab’s population fluctuations over the years, along with the crab’s life cycle and the impact of disease.

The event starts at 5 p.m. in Phillips Wharf classroom, beginning with wine, refreshments, and light snacks served before the presentation. Following the speaker presentation will be time for discussion.

“The blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, is an important crustacean species along the Atlantic coasts of North and South America. In the Chesapeake, it serves as prey for a variety of other species and serves as an important fishery,” said Lycett. “In fact, the U.S. blue crab fishery brought in $197 million in 2017, $48 million of which came from the state of Maryland. However, blue crab populations along the eastern coast of the United States have seen major fluctuations and even declines in recent years.”

Lycett received her Ph.D. from the Marine Estuarine Environmental Science program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where she studied the parasite Hematodinium perezi, which infects blue crabs and other crustaceans.

Bring your curiosity and questions to the Sip & Socialize, as Dr. Lycett has a wealth of knowledge to share. Phillips Wharf Environmental Center’s Sip & Socialize Winter Speaker Series is free, with donations gratefully accepted.

Phillips Wharf Environmental Center’s Sip & Socialize Winter Speaker Series features volunteers, experts, and Chesapeake Bay industry professionals on topics pertinent to the Chesapeake Bay, wildlife and environmental changes, with more in the series posted at phillipswharf.org.