Alien Species of the Week-Chinese Mitten Crab

Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriochier sinensis) 

The Chinese Mitten Crab originates from the Yellow Sea region, along the border with China and Korea. It was first recorded in Europe in the early XX century and is now common in Europe as well as in North America (Dittel and Epifanio 2009). Eriochier sinensis first appeared in the UK in 1935 (Thames river) but became firmly established in 1975 (Veilleux and de Lafontaine 2007).

Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriochier sinensis)

Its omnivorous nature makes the Chinese Mitten Crab a threat to local ecosystems due to its consumption of native species such as fish larvae, algae, detritus and a variety of macro invertebrates and aquatic plants.

As a result of its burrowing activity, the Eriochier sinensis is also a cause of river bank erosion and collapse. The economic impact of this alien specie in Germany, since its appearance in 1912, is estimated at around 80 billion euros (Global Invasive Species Database).

Cohen and Carlton (1997) (cited in Veilleux & de Lafontaine, 2007) identified 10 pathways that would account for the worldwide spread of the Chinese Mitten Crab:

• ƒ dispersal of larvae by currents 

• ƒ passive dispersal of adults or juveniles on floating material 

• ƒ transport of adults or juveniles by ship fouling 

• ƒ transport of adults or juveniles in cargo 

• ƒ transport of adults or juveniles on  semi-submersible drilling platforms, 

• barges and other long-distance slow-moving vessels 

• ƒ transport of larvae or juveniles in ballast water 

• ƒ transport of adults or juveniles in fisheries products 

• ƒ transport of larvae in water with shipments of live fish 

• ƒ escape or release from research, public, or private aquaria 

• ƒ intentional transfer to develop a food resource

General distribution of mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis populations in their native and invasive ranges.Circles correspond to established () and non established populations () in non-native range; () indicates distribution in the native range.

(from Dittel & Epifanio, 2009)

So far the eradication measures such as the physical trapping of the crabs has not proven successful.

Check out this video:

Philine zu Ermgassen, Freshwater Ecologist at the University of Cambridge, talks about its identification, impacts and management in Great Britain:

Further reading on the spread of Eriochier sinensis:

NOBANIS –Invasive Alien Species Fact Sheet

DAISIE - Species fact sheet

Natural History Museum - Chinese Mitten Crab page