Blue crab
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| Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 |
The blue crab, Callinectes sapidus (from the Greek calli="beautiful", nectes="swimmer", and Latin sapidus="savory"), is a crustacean found in the waters of the western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, which is the Maryland State Crustacean and the subject of an extensive fishery <ref name="Maryland">Maryland State Crustacean. Maryland State Archives (2005-12-27).</ref>.
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[edit] Distribution and ecology
It is found from Nova Scotia to Argentina <ref>Callinectes sapidus. Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce (2004-10-11).</ref>, and it has also been introduced via ballast water to Japanese and European waters, where it has been observed from the Baltic Sea, North Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea <ref>Callinectes sapidus. CIESM: The Mediterranean Marine Research Network (August 2006).</ref>.
The natural predators of the blue crab include eels, drum, spot, trout, some sharks, cownose sting rays and humans. The blue crab is an omnivore, eating both plants and other animals. Blue crabs typically consume thin-shelled bivalves, annelids, fish, plants and nearly any other item they can find, including carrion.
[edit] Fishery and cookery
The Chesapeake Bay, shared by Maryland and Virginia, is famous for its blue crabs, and they are one of the most important economic items harvested from it. In 1993, the combined harvest of the blue crabs was around 100 million. Over the years the harvests of the blue crab dropped; in 2000, the combined harvest was around 45 million. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has created stricter guidelines for harvesting blue crabs to help increase populations. These include raising the legal size from 5 to 5ΒΌ inches (from 12.7 to 13.3 cm) and limiting the days and times they may be caught. While blue crabs remain a popular food in the Chesapeake Bay area, the bay is not capable of meeting local demand, so crabs are shipped in from North Carolina, Louisiana, Florida and Texas as well.
The largest male crabs are known as "jimmies", and mature females as "sooks". Immature female crabs are known as "sallies" or "she-crabs" <ref name="Maryland"/>.
Most are eaten as hard-shell crabs, but they can be eaten unpeeled if caught just after molting, before the new shell has had time to harden. These are known as soft shell crabs. One popular form of consumption is to eat them steamed with Old Bay Seasoning, cracking and picking them by hand. Crab cakes are also popular, as well as several varieties of soups. Blue crabs are extremely high in vitamin B12 with just three ounces of crab meat having a full daily allowance; blue crabs average 15% edible meat.
[edit] Miscellany
There is also a children's book called Crabby and Nabby: The Tale of Two Blue Crabs, written by Suzanne Tate and illustrated by James Melvin.
