The first ever Chinese mitten crab trap in Britain has been installed amidst the rising population of this invasive species. Mitten crabs, which were first spotted in the UK in 1935, have recently been observed scuttling around London and Cambridgeshire. The crabs are believed to have traveled from eastern China to Europe and North America in sediment carried in ships’ ballast tanks.
These crabs can be identified by their grey-green to dark brown bodies and dense brown fur on their white-tipped claws. Dr. Paul Clark, a researcher at the Natural History Museum specializing in Chinese mitten crabs, has been working with this species since 1976. In an interview with MailOnline, Dr. Clark explained that the number of mitten crabs is increasing due to their unusual life history. Adult females are capable of producing three spawings of eggs, with each spawing producing between 500,000 and one million eggs. Although not all larvae will develop into juvenile crabs, once this species becomes established, it is difficult to eradicate.
To address this issue, the first ever permanent Chinese mitten crab trap has been installed at Pode Hole in Lincolnshire. This initiative is a collaborative effort between Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, Welland and Deepings Internal Drainage Board, and the Natural History Museum. The trap functions as a letterbox, capturing the crabs until they can be analyzed and removed. Despite installing the trap, no Chinese mitten crabs have been caught yet, possibly due to the warm weather.
Mick Henfrey, employed by the Welland and Deepings Internal Drainage Board, constructed the trap, with the Welland Board providing approximately £8,000 for its construction. Dr. Clark estimates that he could find around 50 to 100 small crabs within an hour at the Chelsea embankment. He believes that otters could potentially reduce the crab population if they were to return in significant numbers, but currently, the population remains unaffected. The mitten crabs pose a threat to native species as they consume fish eggs and affect biodiversity in the Thames and other areas.
Although it is unknown what Chinese mitten crabs primarily feed on, the captured crabs will be preserved and investigated to determine their diet. Dr. Clark emphasizes that no mitten crabs will be released back into the area. The Natural History Museum warns that these invasive crabs can grow to the size of dinner plates, with some specimens having bodies as wide as 85mm.
Since 2016, Chinese mitten crabs have been classified as “widely spread” across the UK. The Natural History Museum’s “Mitten Crab Watch” has received over 800 records confirming the spread of this creature across the country. Sightings have been reported in cities such as London, Newcastle, Manchester, Swansea, Glasgow, and Brighton. People have encountered crabs in unexpected places, such as parks and nature reserves.
The UK government encourages people to report sightings of Chinese mitten crabs to prevent the movement of their eggs. Defra advises individuals to take photos of the crabs and submit them as evidence. With the population of these invasive crabs on the rise, efforts like the installation of the trap at Pode Hole are crucial for managing the impact of this species on the UK’s ecosystems.
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