Invasion of king crabs: Giant crustaceans from Scandinavia arrive in Yorkshire fishermen’s pots to threaten local species
- Invasive king crabs have landed in Yorkshire fisherman’s pot in Bridlington
- Scandinavian invaders have proven popular with fine dining spots in London
- Monster crustaceans can grow close to 6 feet and weigh 28lbs. can weigh up to
- There are fears that the native brown crab population may be at risk
They have passed through Scandinavian waters and made their way into Britain.
Now aggressive king crabs have landed in Yorkshire’s fishermen’s pots off the coast of Bridlington.
There are fears that the native brown crab may be endangered by the arrival of the red king crabs, which can grow up to 6 feet tall and weigh up to 28lb.
The species, which is native to North America, came Russia After scientists began aiming for a new, lucrative market in the 1960s.
The aggressive red king crab, which can grow close to 6 feet and weigh up to 28lb, has landed in Yorkshire’s Fisherman’s Pot off the coast of Bridlington. [File picture]
There is a fear that the native brown crab (pictured) population of the North East may be at risk
King crabs flocked to Norway, seeing a boom in the fishing industry, before moving to Britain.
Despite the native population’s fears, Invaders has so far proved a winner with London’s restaurants, with many people snapping it up for their menus.
Will Murray, chef at the sustainable central London restaurant Follow, told The Daily Telegraph: ‘They are quite a difficult crab to prepare, they have a very long backbone, but the flesh is just sublime.’
Despite the native population’s fears, the Scandinavian king crab (pictured) invaders has so far proved a winner with London’s restaurants, with many people snapping it up for their menus.
Sean Henderson of Henderson Seafood said he plans to sell more than 200 crabs to London restaurants and the public.
His company plans to sell them for £30 a kilo, the same price he charged for lobster, and nearly three times the price estimated for brown crab.
But he added: ‘I’m excited about it but they seem like quite an invasive species, so I have to be careful.
‘It looks like they’re eating the scallops on the bottom and they can outrun brown crabs. I am a little worried about my native seafood.