Mystery surrounds the arrival of a “Chesapeake blue crab”, one member of a species native to the waters of the western Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, which turned up on Dollymount Strand recently. Once in competition with the smaller Irish native crabs the American version - also known as the American blue crab, would be likely to take over, scientists fear. A second report was submitted by a member of the public on March 9th - this time of a blue crab claw which was found on Dollymount Strand. The biodiversity centre is hoping the first and second sightings were of the same crab. In the warmer waters of the Mediterranean, the Chesapeake crab had virtually taken over, pushing out native crabs as well as species that prey on the native crabs.

Source: The Irish Times March 12, 2021 16:10 UTC