Crab
Brown Crab - Scientific name - Cancer pagurus
Conservation status
Although not classified as endangered there are big concerns about stocks of Brown Crab and their overfishing.
The MCS only rate 1 area as Best Choice with 25 other fishing areas as In Need of Improvement and 3 areas to be avoided.
Here is a typical summary of one of the areas of concern: ‘There is concern for the stock level and concern for the fishing level of brown crab in the Central North Sea. Some national management measures are in place, however, they are not effective in managing the stock and effort controls are needed’.
The Cornwall Wildlife Trust also have concerns over the sustainability of crab fishing:
‘The latest stock assessment from CEFAS (2023), shows that fishing mortality is above maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and within limit reference points, and is decreasing towards more sustainable levels. Biomass is below MSY and within limit reference points, but is decreasing towards unsustainable levels.’
Overview
The Brown Crab sometimes known as the ‘edible crab’ is found in the North Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, and potentially the Mediterranean. It is reddish-brown in colour, oval in shape with a "pie crust" edge. Crabs have black tips on the claws. A mature adult may have a body width up to 25 centimetres and weigh up to 3 kilos.
This crab is a nocturnal predator and eats crustaceans and a range of Molluscs.
Brown crabs can be found as far north as Norway and as far south as North Africa. They tend to live on a mixture of coarse ground in mud and sand from very shallow depths to around 100 metres. They are frequently found inhabiting cracks and holes in rocks, but occasionally also in open areas. During the day they will often hide, coming out to prey at night.
Crabs are heavily exploited commercially with 70% caught around the coasts of Britain. Most of the catch is exported to France and Spain. They are caught in crab pots which are similar to lobster pots.
Around one-third of the weight of an adult crab is meat, of which one-third is white meat from the claws, and two-thirds is white and brown meat from the body. As food, male edible crabs are referred to as cocks and females as hens.
Brown Crabs originate back to the Early Jurassic period, 190 million years ago.
Source
Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer_pagurus
Marine Conservation Society - https://www.mcsuk.org/goodfishguide/ratings/wild-capture/1164/
The Cornwall Good Seafood Guide - https://www.cornwallgoodseafoodguide.org.uk/fish-guide/crab-brown-edible.php