European shore crab

Carcinus maenas

European shore crab

Legal Status: Unwanted Organism - MFish

Status in New Zealand: Not in New Zealand

Organism: Water snails, crabs, shellfish, starfish, and other aquatic

Pest and disease search

This pest is NOT in New Zealand.

Report findings to hotline, ph 0800 809 966.
General Information

The European shore crab (also known as the European green crab) has a broad diet and wide environmental tolerance, making it potentially a significant threat to coastal seabed communities.

There is a concern that juvenile crabs or crab larvae could be transported to New Zealand in ballast water.

The crab is medium-sized with a body width up to about 9 cm. It has five distinctive spines on either side of the eyes on the front end of the body. The upper body is mottled dark brown to dark green, with small yellow patches. The underside varies in colour from green to orange or red.