Mortality Associated with Declawing Stone Crabs, Menippe mercenaria
Permanent Link:

Material Information

Title:
Mortality Associated with Declawing Stone Crabs, Menippe mercenaria Report T-522
Creator:
South Florida Natural Resources Center/South Florida Research Center, Everglades National Park
Gary E. Davis
Douglas S. Baughman
James D. Chapman
Donald MacArthur
Alan C. Pierce
Place of Publication:
Homestead
Florida
Publisher:
National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
Publication Date:

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Menippe mercenaria
Mortality

Notes

Abstract:
Claws greater than 7.0 cm propodus length were removed from 201 stone crabs using commercially accepted techniques. The crabs were held in aquaria before and after declawing. Forty-seven of 101 crabs that had both claws removed died, and 28 of 100 single claw amputees died. Seventy six percent of the casualties died within 24 hours of declawing. The claws constituted 51% of the total weight of the crabs before declawing. Declawing would width was significantly correlated with survival. Instantaneous crab mortality estimated from measured declawing wounds of four commercial fishermen ranged from 23 to 51 percent. ( English )

Record Information

Source Institution:
Florida International University
Holding Location:
South Florida Natural Resource Center
Rights Management:
Please contact the owning institution for licensing and permissions. It is the user's responsibility to ensure use does not violate any third party rights.