Dungeness Crab Size report

Dungeness crabs and edible crabs belong to the same genus. There are mainly male Dungeness crabs on the markets, and people enjoy crab meat, while edible crabs entering the seafood markets are females, which is famous for crab roe. These two kinds of crabs grow in different sea areas, and their appearance, taste, fishing season, and price differ. Which do you prefer? The following article will introduce you to more detailed knowledge about Dungeness crab. You have facts about edible crabs in another article.

Dungeness crab is named after the small town of Dungeness in Washington state, also known as prince crab, Vancouver crab, and so on. Dungeness crabs are mainly produced in Northern California, Oregon, Washington State, Alaska, Great Britain, and Columbia. As an important resource of American crab products, it is a seafood treasure with great nutritional value.

The carapace of Dungeness crab is reddish to brown, some with purple spots, the underbelly is white to light orange, the claws are white, and the tip of the last telson is round. Dungeness crabs like to eat clams (bivalves), crustaceans, and small fish. When threatened, they will bury themself in the sand. Keep reading this post to learn more facts.

Dungeness Crab Size and Description

The Dungeness crab bears a wide, long, hard shell that it molts periodically to grow. The belly is yellowish, and the dorsal surface is reddish-brown but lighter on its posterior. As a decapod, its body is broad, oval, composed of a chitinous shell, and with five pairs of armored legs. Male Dungeness crabs have a V-shaped belly cover, or navel, while females have a large, round belly cover. Only male Dungeness crabs can be fished, and fishing of female and small crabs is strictly prohibited.

Although Dungeness crab can be caught year-round, 70% of the output in North America comes from winter off-shore fishing, that is, from December to February of the following year. During this period, Dungeness crabs are in the active growth period after molting in autumn. Dungeness crabs tend to be plump after molting. The price of Dungeness crab is the lowest in December every year when fishing is at its peak.

Average Size of Dungeness Crab

According to the legal, the length of the carapace of a Dungeness crab should not be less than 16 cm, about 500 grams. The maximum width of the Dungeness crab carapace can reach 25 cm. Dungeness crab can reach about 0.9-2 kg. Dungeness crabs caught in Alaska waters are much larger than others from West Coast. The average weight of the Alaskan Dungeness crabs is 1 kg, while Dungeness crabs from Washington, Oregon, and California weigh an average of 700 grams. The typical lifespan of the Dungeness Crab is between 8-13 years.

Conclusion

Dungeness crabs live only in the northeastern waters of the Pacific Ocean from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska to Southern California. American fishermen catch more than 90% of Dungeness crab in North America. Most Dungeness crabs are sold to supermarkets and restaurants from Vancouver, Canada, to San Diego, United States. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the demand for fresh and live Dungeness crabs in the Chinese market has been increasing daily.