Horse Crab

The Horse Crab (Portunus trituberculatus), also called the Gazami Crab and Japanese Blue Crab, is the most widely fished species of crab in the world. It is found off the coasts of East Asia and is closely related to the Flower Crab (Portunus pelagicus).

Size: About 5.9 inches wide

Mating: About the same as other crabs outlined on this site.

Sustainability

The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program helps consumers and businesses make choices for healthy oceans. Their recommendations indicate which seafood items are "Best Choices," "Good Alternatives," and which ones you should "Avoid." The Horse Crab has not been rated.

The MSC's fishery certification program and seafood ecolabel recognise and reward sustainable fishing. They are a global organisation working with fisheries, seafood companies, scientists, conservation groups and the public to promote the best environmental choice in seafood. Marine Stewardship Council.

_Marine Stewardship Council

Certified as sustainable on December 1st 2010.The MSC's fishery certification program and seafood ecolabel recognise and reward sustainable fishing. They are a global organisation working with fisheries, seafood companies, scientists, conservation groups and the public to promote the best environmental choice in seafood. No reference is made to the Horse Crab.

I feel that this crab is sustainable due to the increase in catch each year. However, I worry about catching the Horse Crab by trawling which screws up the bottom of the ocean.

Size of Catch

This is a great picture of a Horse Crab by the Fisheries and Aquaculture department of the United Nations. Check out the F.A.O. of the United Nations.

The Horse Crab catch is about 300,000 tonnes per year! This is the largest catch of any crab in the world.

A tonne is a metric ton and is equal to 1000 kilograms or 2240 pounds.