Research Programme
on blue crabs

Two large non-indigenous species of blue crab (the American blue crab, [Callinectes sapidus] and the blue swimming crab, [Portunus segnis]) have been present in the Mediterranean since at least the first half of the 20th century.

Both species have a high reproductive capacity and potential to expand their range. They are known for problematic interactions with traditional types of fishing gear, such as gillnets or trammel nets, in which they can become entangled, harming both the catch and the nets themselves. For this reason, their gradual spread across the Mediterranean initially presented a cause for concern among both fishers and conservation specialists. However, since the blue crabs are large and also tasty and nutritious, fishers began to develop dedicated gear to catch them and found markets at which to sell them. Stakeholders now agree that this approach is the only way to both control the blue crabs’ expansion and create new market opportunities for fishers.

In recent years, the populations of both species have significantly increased both in number and in geographical range, and there is a clear need for a common management strategy to deal with them. To this end, the GFCM issued Recommendation GFCM/42/2018/7 on the implementation of a regional research programme on blue crab in the Mediterranean Sea, in order to properly evaluate their population status and maintain sustainable fisheries.  

Learn more about the GFCM management-oriented research.