Callinectes sapidus in Spain since 2012. Mar Menor, Ebro Delta, Albufera Valencia. Among the 100 most problematic invasive species. Preys on bivalves, crustaceans and juvenile fish. Gastronomic use promoted as a control measure.
The blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), arriving in ballast water, has colonized the Mediterranean and the Strait of Gibraltar at a worrying rate. Divers now find it in areas where it was previously unknown, displacing native crustaceans and altering the balance of benthic communities. Its voracity affects commercially important species. The debate reflects uncertainty about whether containment is possible.
Originally from the Atlantic coasts of North America, it arrived in Spain around 2012, first detected in the Mar Menor, the Ebro Delta, and the Albufera of Valencia. In less than a decade it spread along the entire Mediterranean coast, crossed the Strait of Gibraltar, and reached Portugal. It is considered one of the hundred most problematic invasive species in the Mediterranean. The main control strategy being explored is its use as a culinary product as a population reduction mechanism, though scientists warn that current fishing pressure is insufficient.