The Chinese Mitten Crab Eriocheir sinensis (Decapoda: Grapsidae) from Polish Waters

The Chinese mitten crab has invaded many European waters, including the Baltic Sea, usually as a result of ship traffic. This crab is especially abundant in the Odra Estuary. The Chinese mitten crab inhabits fresh waters most of its life but migrates to the sea to reproduce. Of 186 specimens taken i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Oceanologia 2000, Vol.42 (3), p.375-375
Main Authors: Normant, Monika, Wiszniewska, Anna, Szaniawska, Anna
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Catadromous species
Eriocheir sinensis
Non-indigenous organism
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Summary:The Chinese mitten crab has invaded many European waters, including the Baltic Sea, usually as a result of ship traffic. This crab is especially abundant in the Odra Estuary. The Chinese mitten crab inhabits fresh waters most of its life but migrates to the sea to reproduce. Of 186 specimens taken in Lake Dabie in August 1998, 45% were female. The average carapace width ranged from 53-88 mm, and the average wet weight was 169 plus or minus 45.3 g, making it the largest crustacean to inhabit Polish waters. Distributions in inland Polish and Baltic Sea waters are summarized. There appears to have been a recent increase in the occurrence of Chinese mitten crabs in Polish waters, raising concern about damage to fishing gear and aquatic/marine ecosystems.
ISSN:0078-3234