The Atlantic blue crab is found along the marshes and bays of coastal Texas, and is a critical food for wintering whooping cranes, along with other creatures. The crab catch has declined since peaking in 1987, evidently due to overfishing, shrimp trawl bycatch, and reduced freshwater inflows and habitat. The state has limited bay shrimping, reduced crab licenses and removed thousands of abandoned traps to help with restoration.