For the second time in three years, a Gloucester fisherman has caught and landed an adult male Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) off Cape Ann.
Could this commercially important West Coast crab be the Northeast coast’s new invasive animal? And how did it get here in the first place?
The online literature states the "Dungeness crab, named after a small town and the shallow bay inside of Dungeness Spit on the Olympic Peninsula in the state of Washington, is the culinary jewel of Netarts Bay, a prime destination for crabbers. Crabbing is good in many places in Netarts Bay, not only in the deeper channels, but even in the eel grass beds where they like to hide." Only male crabs with a carapace, or back, width of at least 5 1/2 inches can be landed.
Read the complete story at The Gloucester Daily Times.