On the Atlantic blue crab ( Callinectes sapidus Rathbun 1896) in southern European coastal waters: Time to turn a threat into a resource?

Abstract

The blue crab Callinectes sapidus is native to the coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean, and along the US coasts the species supports an important fishery. The crab has been introduced to Europe at the beginning of the 20 th century. To date the species is considered invasive and is extensively recorded in southern European waters (SEW), where it is starting to penetrate the shellfish market. Here, an integrated management strategy is proposed for the blue crab in SEW, including the Mediterranean and Black Sea and the eastern Atlantic coasts of the Iberian Peninsula.Taking as introductory examples two case studies represented by the red king crab Paralithodes camtschaticus and the green crab Carcinus maenas, a framework of key issues is reviewed considering the double nature of the species as invaders and shellfish products. A SWOT analysis is eventually presented for C. sapidus, in order to perform a state-of-the-art synthesis of the proposed scenario, highlighting the potential opportunities as well as the weaknesses related with the limited knowledge of the ecological and economic impact of the species in invaded habitats. The review is concluded by an appraisal of the current trends in global and European crustacean fisheries. The ongoing expansion of C. sapidus might represent a useful management case study, where the need to control an invasive species and mitigate its ecological impact can be harmonized with the opportunity to value it as a fishery resource.

Tropicalisation of temperate reefs: Implications for ecosystem functions and management actions

“…This approach is already used with many invasive species. For example, invasive alien crabs are being used in the marine aquaria trade, turning a threat into a profit (Calado, 2012), and similar strategies are being considered for other invasives like the Atlantic blue crab, which has substantial potential as a new fishery (Mancinelli et al, 2017). Targeted removals of the invasive lionfish are also being implemented worldwide and can be effective at minimising impacts (Frazer, Jacoby, Edwards, Barry, & Manfrino, 2012).…”

An Update on the Invasion of Weakfish Cynoscion regalis (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Actinopterygii: Sciaenidae) into Europe

“…It was also proposed that red lionfish could be used by local populations as a new item in their diet to mitigate the invasion [42]. A similar proposal was made regarding the Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 (Portunidae) in southern European coastal waters [43]. Still, there are several caveats Tagus and Mira estuaries are located~60 km northwards, and~90 km southwards from the Sado estuary; these distances refer to the path distance between the Sado estuary and the other estuaries.…”

“…It was also proposed that red lionfish could be used by local populations as a new item in their diet to mitigate the invasion [42]. A similar proposal was made regarding the Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 (Portunidae) in southern European coastal waters [43]. Still, there are several caveats which must be considered before encouraging the control of invasive species through fishing [44].…”

Morphometric Relationships of the Global Invader Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 (Decapoda, Brachyura, Portunidae) from Papapouli Lagoon, NW Aegean Sea, Greece. with Notes on Its Ecological Preferences

“…In the Americas and in some countries of north-western Europe, blue crabs are commercially important [5][6][7]. In the Mediterranean Sea, the species is exploited in Turkey [8] and, to a lesser extent, in Italy [9], Egypt [10] and Greece [11][12][13][14]. Blue crabs are a well-studied species-at their native distribution.…”