Invasive hairy crabs are a growing concern for New York City authorities, as they threaten native marine life and increase the risk of riverbank flooding. The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) has recently issued a warning about these crabs, also known as eggplants, urging people who catch them to put them in the freezer and call local authorities.
Hairy crabs have been spotted in the Hudson River, Nissequogue, and Long Island Sound estuaries. Marine scientists are concerned that invasive hairy crabs could outcompete vulnerable local species and disrupt the food chain. These crabs move between salt and brackish water, potentially causing ecosystem disruptions through competition with native marine life. They are predators that can impact entire food webs as they search for native fish eggs and invertebrates. Their burrowing habits can destabilize river banks, increase erosion, and lead to the risk of flooding and reduced habitat.
Commercial shrimp trawlers introduced hairy crabs to the United States in 1992, where they first established populations in San Francisco Bay. Despite being a delicacy in Asia, the US does not license the import, export, or sale of live hairy crabs. The first recorded live hairy crabs in New York were found in 2007 in a commercial crab trap near the Tappan Zee Bridge on the Hudson River. NYDEC advises the public to check boats, trawlers, and equipment for debris and mud, and to be vigilant for hairy crabs. If discovered, they should be caught, photographed, and frozen for further analysis.
NYDEC is part of the Hairy Crab Network, a collaborative program that has successfully eradicated invasive crabs from the west coast of the United States since 2010. The last confirmed live case of hairy crabs was found in the Chesapeake Bay near the Patapsco River flowing through Maryland in 2014. Conservation authorities recommend reporting any sightings of hairy crabs to help prevent their spread and protect native marine species and ecosystems.
In conclusion, invasive hairy crabs pose a significant threat to New York City’s marine ecosystems
