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Common name - Crab, spider
Scientific name - Maia squinado
Average rating
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Visit Fishonline for the full range of options available for this species.
Consumer Information
As the name suggests this is a crab with very long legs! It is the largest crab found in British waters, with a shell width of up to 200mm and a leg span of 500mm or more. Tangle nets are the main fishing method used to capture spider crabs. Netting is less sustainable than potting, because with potting there is no by-catch of non-target species and small crabs may be returned to the sea alive. Only eat pot caught spiders and not ones that are less than 120mm wide, carrying eggs or fresh ones caught in the spawning season from April to July. There's lots of brown meat inside the top shell, it's tasty but the texture isn't to everyone's taste. The claws, however, have lots of sweet white meat.The majority of UK spider crab is exported to France and Spain where it is sold as a delicacy.
Summary
Spider crabs are becoming more and more common in British waters, often appearing in vast numbers. Much of the catch are exported to the continent where there is little concern for the sustainability of the fisheries. If UK consumers started to buy spider crab caught using sustainable methods this may incentivise comprehensive management and stock assessment for the species. Potting is a more selective method of capture than tangle netting and the best choice for spider crab. There is little or no bycatch of non-target species and undersized and berried crabs can be returned to the sea alive. Avoid eating immature crabs below legal minimum landing size (120 mm maximum body width) and egg-bearing crabs and fresh (not previously frozen) crabs caught during the spawning season (April-July).
Alternatives
(Based on method of production, fish type, and consumer rating: only fish rated 3 and below are included.)
Visit Fishonline, the website for the seafood industry, for more detailed information about this species.