Monterey Bay Aquarium
Hours & Calendar Teachers Membership Donate Now Espanol
Visitor InfoAnimals & ActivitiesSave the OceansFun & Learning
Make a Donation

Seafood Watch

Take Action

News from Julie Packard

Conservation Research

Our Conservation Efforts


Get Updates
Seafood Watch
Seafood
Watch Home Seafood
Recommendations Seafood
Search Pocket
Guides Mobile
Guides Sushi Seafood &
Your Health Chart of
Alternatives
Seafood SearchSeafood Search

A-N
O-Z

Abalone
Arctic Char
Barramundi
Basa
Black Sea Bass
Bluefish
Bluenose
Capelin
Catfish
Caviar
Chilean Seabass
Clams
Cobia
Cod
Conch
Corvina
Crab
Crayfish
Croaker
Eel
Flounder
Grenadier
Groupers
Haddock
Hake
Halibut
Herring
Imitation Crab
Lingcod
Lobster
Mackerel
Mahi Mahi
Marlin
Monkfish
Mullet
Mussels

A-N
O-Z

Seafood Watch - Seafood Guide

Crab, Blue

U.S. Food and Drug Administration
SEAFOODRATINGMARKET NAMESWHERE CAUGHTHOW CAUGHT
Blue Crab Good Alternative: These are good alternatives to the best choices column. There are some concerns with how they are fished or farmed – or with the health of their habitats due to other human impacts. Hardshell Crab, Softshell Crab, Blue-Claw Crab, Kani U.S. Trap
Dungeness Crab Best Choice: These fish are abundant, well managed and fished or farmed in environmentally friendly ways. Market Crab, San Francisco Crab, Pacific Edible Crab, Commercial Crab U.S., Canada Trap
Jonah Crab Good Alternative: These are good alternatives to the best choices column. There are some concerns with how they are fished or farmed – or with the health of their habitats due to other human impacts. Atlantic Dungeness Crab U.S. Atlantic Wild-caught
King Crab Good Alternative: These are good alternatives to the best choices column. There are some concerns with how they are fished or farmed – or with the health of their habitats due to other human impacts. Alaska King Crab, Red King Crab, Golden King Crab, Blue King Crab, Kani U.S. Trap
King Crab Avoid: Avoid these products for now. These fish come from sources that are overfished or fished or farmed in ways that harm the environment. King Crab, Red King Crab, Golden King Crab, Blue King Crab, Kani Imported Trap
Kona Crab Best Choice: These fish are abundant, well managed and fished or farmed in environmentally friendly ways. Spanner Crab, Frog Crab Australia Wild-caught
Kona Crab Good Alternative: These are good alternatives to the best choices column. There are some concerns with how they are fished or farmed – or with the health of their habitats due to other human impacts. Spanner Crab, Frog Crab, Päpa‘i kualoa Hawaii Wild-caught
Snow Crab Good Alternative: These are good alternatives to the best choices column. There are some concerns with how they are fished or farmed – or with the health of their habitats due to other human impacts. Snow Crab, Tanner Crab, Queen Crab, Spider Crab, Kani Alaska, Canada Wild-caught
Stone Crab Best Choice: These fish are abundant, well managed and fished or farmed in environmentally friendly ways. Gulf Stone Crab, Florida Stone Crab U.S. Atlantic, U.S. Gulf of Mexico Trap


Blue Crab

Blue crab has the potential to support a sustainable fishery. However, many blue crab populations have been on the decline due to habitat loss. Blue crab is therefore a "Good Alternative."

Consumer Note

Only crabs caught in U.S. waters can be sold as blue crabs. Imported blue swimmer crabs are a different species. Blue crab is known as kani when prepared as sushi.

Health Alert

Environmental Defense Fund has issued a health advisory for blue crab due to elevated levels of mercury and PCBs.

Summary

The blue crab is a bottom-dweller that lives and breeds in a variety of shallow coastal habitats. The heart of the blue crab fishery was traditionally the Chesapeake Bay area where it is one of the bay’s most important and valuable fisheries. The fishery extends down the southeast coast of the U.S. and into the Gulf of Mexico. Blue crabs are harvested as hard shell crabs, peeler crabs just prior to molting, and soft shell crabs immediately after the molt.

The blue crab fishery has the potential to be a sustainable. Like most crabs, blues grow quickly and reproduce in great numbers. The crab is caught in traps so that any accidental bycatch can be thrown back with little harm done. However, many blue crab populations have declined drastically due to habitat loss caused by pollution and coastal development. More basic science regarding the blue crab population cycle is needed and, while Maryland and Virginia actively manage their fisheries, management in another areas could be improved.

Scientific Reports About Our Ratings
Seafood Watch Card Print a pocket-size Seafood Watch guide to take with you.
Download a guide now
Mobile phone users log on to mobile.seafoodwatch.org.

iPhone and iPhone touch users, you can get the most up-to-date Seafood Watch recommendations on your iPhone or iPod touch.

How fish are caught or farmed makes a difference.
Learn more
 Fishing boat

 
Celebrating 25 Years of Ocean Conservation
© 1999-2008, Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation, 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940 Tel: (831) 648-4800
Pressroom  |  Plan an Event  |  Jobs  |  Volunteer  |  About Us  |  Contact Us  |  Site Map  |  Privacy  |  Terms




www.montereybayaquarium.org
886 Cannery Row | Monterey, California 93940
Regular Hours 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Daily, Closed Dec. 25