Abstract
The first record of the American blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 from Europe was collected in 1900 on the Atlantic coast of France. Subsequently specimens were detected in the North Sea (1932), Mediterranean Sea (1949, but probably as early as 1935), Baltic Sea (1951), Black Sea (1967), and possibly in the Sea of Azov (1967). It seems that multiple independent introductions may have taken place with ballast water is the most likely introduction vector. In some cases accidental release from holding tanks or intentional release from fishery activities could be involved. Several records may likely be explained also by long-distance migrations of specimens from their primary locations of introduction. But not every introduction was successful over time. Among insufficient habitats and environmental pollution, too low water temperatures seem an important factor for the non establishment of C. sapidus especially in northern Europe and in the Black Sea. The American blue crab may benefit from global warming, and there is increasing concern about its ecological and economic impacts. For a definitive assessment an adequate quantification and comparison of documented and potential effects of C. sapidus is of considerable importance. Such ambitious task has not been carried out so far.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Abdel-Razec FA (1987) Crab fishery of the Egyptian waters with notes on the bionomics of Portunus pelagicus (L.). Acta Adriat 28:143–154
Adema JPHM (1983) Nogmaals de blauwe zwemkrab, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896. Zeepaard 43:14
Adema JPHM (1991) De krabben van Nederland en België (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura). Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum, Leiden
Amanieu M, Le Dantec J (1961) Sur la présence accidentelle de Callinectes sapidus M. Rathbun à l’embouchure de la Gironde. Rev Trav Inst Pêches Marit 25:339–343
Anonymous (2003) De Blauwe zwemkrab is nu ook in de Oosterschelde aangetroffen. http://www.anemoon.org/anemoon/spuisluis/2003/021105.htm. Cited 13 Sep 2009
Anonymous (2006) Amerikanische Blaukrabbe illegal ins Schwarze Meer eingewandert. http://www.bnr.bg/radiobulgaria/emission_german/theme_foto_des_tages/material/fdt060825.htm. Cited 15 Feb 2009
Anonymous (2009) Quantity of caught other sea fish (crustaceas, molluscs). www.tuik.gov.tr/PreIstatistikTablo.do?istab_id=694. Cited 6 Sep 2009
Artüz I (1990) Mavi yengecin serüvenleri. Cumhuriyet Bilim Teknik 148:6
Balkis N, Albayrak S, Balis H (2002) Check-list of the Crustacea fauna of the Bosphorus. Turk J Mar Sci 8:157–164
Banoub MW (1963) Survey of the Blue-Crab Callinectes sapidus (Rath.), in Lake Edku in 1960. Alexandria Institute of Hydrobiology, Notes and Memoirs 69:1–20
Beqiraj S, Kashta L (2010) The establishment of blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 in the Lagoon of Patok, Albania (south-east Adriatic Sea). Aquat Invas 5:219–221
Boschma H (1972) On the occurrence of Carcinus maenas (Linnaeus) and its parasite Sacculina carcini Thompson in Burma, with notes on the transport of crabs to new localities. Zool Meded 47:145–155
Bouvier EL (1901) Sur un Callinectes sapidus M. Rathbun trouvé à Rochefort. Bull Mus Hist Nat Paris 7:16–17
Bulgurkov K (1968) Callinectes sapidus Rathbun (Crustacea - Decapoda) v Cherno more. Izv Nauchnoizsled Inst Okeanogr Ribno Stop Varna 9:97–99
Cabal J, Millán JAP, Arronte JC (2006) A new record of Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) from the Cantabrian Sea, Bay of Biscay, Spain. Aquat Invas 1:186–187
Cavaliere A, Berdar A (1975) Presenza di Callinectes sapidus Rathbun (Decapoda Brachyura) nello Stretto di Messina. Boll Pesca Piscic Idrobiol 30:315–322
CIESM (2008) Callinectes sapidus. http://www.ciesm.org/atlas/Callinectessapidus.php. Cited 6 Sep 2009
Clark PF (1984) Recent records of alien crabs in Britain. Naturalist 109:111–112
Craeymeersch JA, Kamermans P (1996) Waarnemingen van de blauwe zwemkrab Callinectes sapidus in de Oosterschelde. Zeepaard 56:21–22
DAISIE (2009) Species Factsheet, Callinectes sapidus. http://www.europe-aliens.org. Cited 2 Oct 2009
Demetropoulos A, Neocleous D (1969) The fishes and crustaceans of Cyprus. Fisher Dept Cyprus, Fisher Bull 1:1–21
Den Hartog C, Holthuis LB (1951) De Noord-americaanse “Blue Crab” in Nederland. Levende Nat 54:121–125
Enzenroß R, Enzenroß L, Bingel F (1997) Occurrence of blue crab, Callinectes sapidus (Rathbun 1896) (Crustacea, Brachyura) on the Turkish Mediterranean and the adjacent coast and its size distribution in the Bay of Üskenderun. Turk J Zoo 21:113–122
Florio M, Breber P, Scirocco T, Specchiulli A, Cilenti L, Lumare L (2008) Exotic species in Lesina and Varano lakes: Gargano National Park (Italy). Transit Waters Bull 2:69–79
Food and Agriculture Organization (2007) Species Fact Sheet Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896. http://www.fao.org/fishery/species/2632/en. Cited 27 Sep 2009
Franceschini G, Andaloro F, Diviacco G (1993) La macrofauna dei fondi strascicabili della Sicilia Orientale. Natu Sicil 17:311–324
Galil B (1993) The composition and diversity of planktonic larval decapoda off the Mediterranean coast of Israel. MAP Technical Reports Series 73, UNEP, Athens
Gaudencio MJ, Guerra MT (1979) Note sur la présence de Callinectes sapidus Ratbun 1896 (Crustacea Decapoda Brachyura) dans l’estuaire du Taje. Bol Inst Nac Invest Pescas 2:67–73
Geiter O (2000) Blaukrabbe in der Weser gefangen. Neozoen Newsl 3:9
Gennaio R, Scordella G, Pastore M (2006) Occurrence of blue crab Callinectes sapidus (Rathbun, 1986 Crustacea, Brachyura), in the Ugento ponds area (Lecce, Italy). Thalassia Salentina 29:29–39
George CJ, Athanassiou V (1965) The occurrence of the American blue crab, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, in the coastal waters of Libanon. Doriana 4:1–3
Georgiadis C, Georgiadis G (1974) Zur Kenntnis der Crustacea Decapoda des Golfes von Thessaaloniki. Crustaceana 26:239–248
Ghisotti F (1966) Il Callinectes sapidus Rathbun nel Mediterraneo (Crustacea, Decapoda). Natura 57:177–180
Giordani Soika A (1951) Il Neptunus pelagicus (L.) nell’Alto Adriatico. Natura 42:18–20
Gollasch S (1996) Untersuchungen des Arteintrages durch den internationalen Schiffsverkehr unter besonderer Berücksichtigung nichtheimischer Arten. Verlag Dr. Kovac, Hamburg
Gollasch S, Nehring S (2006) National checklist for aquatic alien species in Germany. Aquat Invas 1:245–269
Hänfling B, Carvalho GR, Brandl R (2002) mt-DNA sequences and possible invasion pathways of the Chinese mitten crab. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 238:307–310
Hill J, Fowler DL, Avyle MV (1989) Species profiles: Life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (Mid-Atlantic) - Blue crab. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg
Holthuis LB (1961) Report on a collection of Crustacea Decapoda and Stomatopoda from Turkey and the Balkans. Zool Verh Leiden 47:1–67
Holthuis LB (1969) Enkele interessante Nederlandse Crustacea. Bijdragen tot de faunistiek van Nederland. I. Zool Bijdr Leiden 11:34–48, pl. 1
Holthuis LB, Gottlieb E (1955) The occurence of the american Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, in Israel waters. Bull Res Counc Israel 5B:154–156
ICES WGITMO (2000) Report of the Working group on Introductions and Transfers of marine Organisms, Parnu, Estonia, 27–29 March 2000. ICES CM 2000/ACME:07
ICES WGITMO (2001) Report of the Working group on Introductions and Transfers of marine Organisms, Barcelona, Spain, 21–23 March 2001. ICES CM 2001/ACME:08
ICES WGITMO (2003) Report of the Working group on Introductions and Transfers of marine Organisms, Vancouver, Canada, 26–28 March 2003. ICES CM 2003/ACME:04
ICES WGITMO (2004) Report of the Working group on Introductions and Transfers of marine Organisms, Cesenatico, Italy, 25–26 March 2004. ICES CM 2004/ACME:05
ICES WGITMO (2006) Report of the Working group on Introductions and Transfers of marine Organisms, Oostende, Belgium, 16–17 March 2006. ICES CM 2006/ACME:05
ICES WGITMO (2007) Report of the Working group on Introductions and Transfers of marine Organisms, Dubrovnik, Croatia, 21–23 March 2007. ICES CM 2007/ACME:05
Ingle RW (1980) British crabs. British Museum (Natural History), London
Kerckhof F, Haelters J (2005) Enkele opmerkelijke waarnemingen en strandingen in 2004 en 2005. De Strandvlo 25:101–105
Kerckhof F, Haelters J, Gollasch S (2007) Alien species in the marine and brackish ecosystem: the situation in Belgian waters. Aquat Invas 2:243–257
Kevrekidis K, Galil BS (2003) Decapoda and Stomatopoda (Crustacea) of Rodos island (Greece) and the Erythrean expansion NW of the Levantine Sea. Medit Mar Sci 4:57–66
Kinzelbach R (1965) Die Blaue Schwimmkrabbe (Callinectes sapidus), ein Neubürger im Mittelmeer. Nat Mus 95:293–296
Kühl H (1965) Fang einer Blaukrabbe, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun (Crustacea, Portunidae) in der Elbmündung. Arch Fisch Wiss 15:225–227
Lai JCY, Ng PKL, Davie PJF (2010) A revision of the Portunus pelagicus (Linnaeus, 1758) species complex (Crustacea: Brachyura: Portunidae) with the recognition of four species. Raffles Bull Zool 58:199–237
Lewinsohn C, Holthuis LB (1986) The crustacea decapoda of Cyprus. Zool Verh Leiden 230:1–64
Mackenzie BR, Schiedek D (2007) Daily ocean monitoring since the 1860s shows record warming of northern European seas. Glob Chang Biol 13:1335–1347
Maes J, Taillieu A, van Damme PA, Cottenie K, Ollevier F (1998) Seasonal patterns in the fish and crustacean community of a turbid temperate estuary (Zeeschelde Estuary, Belgium). Estuar cst Shelf Sci 47:143–152
Messick GA, Sindermann CJ (1992) Synopsis of principal diseases of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. NOAA Technical Memorandum, Woods Hole
Micu S, Micu D (2006) Proposed IUCN regional status of all Crustacea: Decapoda from the Romanian Black Sea. Ann Sci Univ “AlICuza” Iasi, sect Biol Animala 52:7–38
Mizzan L (1993) Presence of swimming crabs of the genus Callinectes (Stimpson) (Decapoda, Portunidae) in the Venice Lagoon (North Adriatic Sea - Italy): first record of Callinectes danae Smith in European waters. Boll Mus civ Stor nat Venezia 42:31–43
Mizzan L (1999) Le specie alloctone del macrozoobenthos della laguna di Venezia: il punto della situazione. Boll Mus Civ Stor Nat Venezia 49:145–177
Monin VL (1984) A new finding of Callinectes sapidus (Decapoda, Brachyura) in the Black Sea. Zool Zhurnal 63:1100–1102
Müller GJ (1986) Review of the hitherto recorded species of Crustacea Decapoda from the Bosporus, the Sea of Marmara and the Dardanelles. Cercetari Mar 19:109–130
Nehring S (2006) Four arguments why so many alien species settle into estuaries, with special reference to the German river Elbe. Helgol Mar Res 60:127–134
Nehring S, van der Meer U (2010) First record of a fertilized female blue crab, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura), from the German Wadden Sea and subsequent secondary prevention measures. Aquat Invas 5:215–218
Nehring S, Speckels G, Albersmeyer J (2008) The American blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun on the German North Sea coast: Status quo and further perspectives. Senckenbergiana Marit 38:39–44
Ojaveer H, Gollasch S, Jaanus A, Kotta J, Laine AO, Minde A, Normant M, Panov VE (2007) The Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis in the Baltic Sea – a supply-side invader? Biol Invas 9:409–418
Onofri V, Dulčić J, Conides A, Matić-Skoko S, Glamuzina B (2008) The occurrence of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 (Decapoda, Brachyura, Portunidae) in the eastern Adriatic (Croatian coast). Crustaceana 81:403–409
Pancucci-Papadopoulou MA, Zenetos A, Corsini-Foka M, Politou ChA (2005) Update of marine alien species in Hellenic waters. Medit Mar Sci 6:147–158
Petrescu I, Papadopol N, Nicolaev S (2000) O nouă specie pentru fauna de decapode din apele marine româneşti, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun 1896. Anal Dobrogei 6:222–228
Pipitone C, Arculeo M (2003) The marine Crustacea Decapoda of Sicily (central Mediterranean Sea): a checklist with remarks on their distribution. Ital J Zool 70:69–78
Ramadan SE, Dowidar NM (1972) Brachyura (Decapoda, Crustacea) from the Mediterranean waters of Egypt. Thalassia Jugosl 8:127–139
Rappé G (1985) Vestigt de blauwe zwemkrab, Callinectes sapidus zich blijvend in de Zuidelijke Noordzee? De Strandvlo 5:8–11
Rathbun MJ (1930) The cancroid crabs of America of the families Euryalidae, Portunidae, Atelecyclidae, Cancridae and Xanthidae. US Nat Mus Bull 152:1–609
Remane A (1934) Die Brackwasserfauna. Verh dt zool Ges 36:34–74
Revkov NK (2003) Taxonomical composition of the bottom fauna at the Black Sea Crimean coast. In: Eremeev VN, Gaevskaya AV (eds) Modern condition of the biodiversity of the coastal zone of Crimea (Black Sea region). Ekosi-Gidrophizika, Sevastopol
Schembri PJ, Lanfranco E (1984) Marine Brachyura (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) from the Maltese Islands and surrounding waters (Central Mediterranean). Centro 1:21–39
Serbetis C (1959) Un nouveau crustacé commestible en mer Egeé Callinectes sapidus Rath. (Decapode brach.). Proc Gen Fish Counc Medit 5:505–507
Shiber JG (1981) Brachyurans from Lebanese waters. Bull Mar Sci 31:864–875
Shiganova T (2008) Introduced species. Hdb Env Chem 5Q:375–406
Snovsky Z, Galil BS (1990) The occurrence of the American blue crab, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, in the Sea of Galilee. Bamidgeh 42:62–63
Stimpson W (1860) Notes on North American Crustacea, No. 2. Ann Lyceum Nat Hist 7:176–246
Streftaris N, Zenetos A (2006) Alien marine species in the Mediterranean - the 100 ‘Worst Invasives’ and their impact. Medit Mar Sci 7:87–118
Tendal OS, Flintegaard H (2007) Et fund af en sjælden krabbe i danske farvande: den blå svømmekrabbe, Callinectes sapidus. Flora Fauna Århus 113:53–56
Torchio M (1967) Il Callinectes sapidus Rathbun nelle acque siciliane (Crustacea, Decapoda). Natura 58:81
Tortonese E (1965) La comparsa di Callinectes sapidus Rath. (Decapoda Brachyura) nel Mar Ligure. Doriana 4:1–3
Tuncer S, Bilgin S (2008) First record of Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) in the Dardanelles, Canakkale, Turkey. Aquat Invasions 3:469
Van Damme P, Maes J (1993) De Blauwe Zwemkrab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 in de Westerschelde (Belgium). De Strandvlo 13:120–121
Vincent T (1986) Les captures de Callinectes sapidus (Rathbun, 1896) en baie de Seine, entre 1975 et 1984. Bull trim Soc Géol Normandie et Amis du Muséum du Havre 73:13–15
Vincent T (1999) Callinectes sapidus (Decapoda, Brachyura, Portunidae). Essai de synthese sur 23 ans d’observations en baie de Seine. Bull trim Soc géol Normandie Amis Mus Havre 86:13–17
White M, Haxhiu I, Saçdanaku E, Petri L, Rumano M, Osmani F, Vrenozi B, Robinson P, Kouris S, Boura L, Venizelos L (2009) Monitoring and conservation of important sea turtle feeding grounds in the Patok Area of Albania, 2008 Annual Report. The Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles, Athens.
Williams AB (1974) The swimming crabs of the Genus Callinectes (Decapoda, Portunidae). Fish Bull 72:685–798
Williams AB (1984) Shrimps, lobsters, and crabs of the Atlantic coast of the Eastern United States, Maine to Florida. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington
Wolff T (1954) Tre ostamerikanske krabber fundet i Danmark. Flora Fauna Århus 60:19–34
Wolff WJ (2005) Non-indigenous marine and estuarine species in The Netherlands. Zool Med 79-1:1–116
WWF/Adena (2002) Doñana y el cambio climático. WWF/Adena, Madrid
Zaitsev Y, Mamaev V (1997) Biological diversity in the Black Sea: a study of change and decline. United Nations Publications, New York
Zaitsev Y, Öztürk B (2001) Exotic species in the Aegean, Marmara, Black, Azov and Caspian Seas. Turkish Marine Research Foundation, Istanbul
Acknowledgements
I am grateful, for information, and help with the bibliography to: U. Albrecht, A.S. Ates, E. Bozhikowa, P.F. Clark, J.A. Craeymeersch, C. Frogila, B. Galil, V. Golemansky, F. Kerckhof, J.C.Y. Lai, P.Y. Noël, V. Onofri, I. Petrescu, P.J. Schembri, T. Shiganova, H. Simon, and H. Zibrowius. I also thank Paul F. Clark, Cedric d’Udekem d’Acoz and Bella Galil for their suggestions to improve the manuscript and for language revision.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Nehring, S. (2011). Invasion History and Success of the American Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus in European and Adjacent Waters. In: Galil, B., Clark, P., Carlton, J. (eds) In the Wrong Place - Alien Marine Crustaceans: Distribution, Biology and Impacts. Invading Nature - Springer Series in Invasion Ecology, vol 6. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0591-3_21
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0591-3_21
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-0590-6
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-0591-3
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)