Developing possible value-added food products (crab ovaries) from the invasive species European green crab, Carcinus maenas

The European green crab is among the 100 “world’s worst alien invasive species.” It invaded the North American coast in the 1800s and is now commonly found in both Pacific and Atlantic provinces in Canada. Huge number of green crabs can cause significant ecological and economic impacts on local marine ecosystems. There are many measures conducted to control their populations. Developing commercial use of green crabs is one of them. This project aims to get benefit from great number of green crabs and treat them as a nature resource. We will apply a technique (eyestalk ablation) to produce crab ovaries from female green crabs. Market surveys would be conducted to figure out the commercial potentials for crab ovaries. This project may provide a solution to control this invasive species and exploit the food market for green crabs.

Faculty Supervisor:

Iain McGaw

Student:

Partner:

Springboard Atlantic Inc.

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Aquaculture and Fishing; Agriculture and Food

University:

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Program: