Controlling the spread of blue crab

The fishing community of El Palmar and researchers from the University of Valencia joined forces to study and control the spread of blue crab in the Albufera lagoon.

Fishers in the Albufera, a large freshwater lagoon in the Gulf of Valencia, face increasing numbers of blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), an aggressive invader that preys on other species and destroys fishing gear.

The project set out to learn the migratory movements of the blue crab so to be able to stop it spreading further. As a result, a plan is being developed to promote the sustainable recovery of the Albufera by reducing blue crab numbers. The main approach is to intercept the female crabs during the spawning period, before they reach the sea. Knowledge of their migration patterns allows greater numbers to be caught. The blue crabs are good to eat and their sale generates a profit for the fishers, while helping the local environment to recover.