The blue crab (Callinectes sapidus, Rathbun, 1896) is spreading in the southern coast of the Black Sea

Abstract

The natural fauna of the Black Sea changes due to the entrance of different origin species. One of them is the blue crab that the first location information of which reported in 1968 on the Black Sea. Location records of blue crabs have been found in the southern coasts of the Black Sea in recent years. A total of 451 hauls were performed with the hydraulic dredge fishing gear to detect the existence of the blue crab on the coast of Sakarya (Southern Black Sea). Two female individuals were caught (carapace length: 70.09 cm, width: 15.69 cm, weight: 166.9 g; carapace length: 83.42 cm, width: 188.89 cm, weight: 272.1 g). Especially when the location records in recent years are examined, it is seen that this species is spreading to the southern coasts of the Black Sea. The probability of reproduction and adaptation in the Black Sea should be explored by diving and a blue crab-oriented study with traps or diving.