Additional records of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 in the Moroccan Sea, Africa

In this study, 110 male and female blue crabs Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 were collected from the coastal waters of Morocco, Africa using baited traps between February and December 2021. Here, we report the first occurrence of the species in the ports of Tangier and Tangier Med (the Strait of Gibraltar). These additional records support recent work by others of hundreds of blue crabs (mostly females) collected from different locations along the Moroccan coastline. Combined, these records represent the distribution of the species throughout northwestern Africa. These new locations may be indicative of natural expansion from a previously introduced population in the Tangier Med, which is the largest port in Africa. Additional population genetics are needed to further elucidate questions surrounding the continued spread of C. sapidus along the northwestern African coast.

Automated summary

This study reports the first occurrence of Callinectes sapidus blue crabs in the ports of Tangier and Tangier Med in Morocco, supporting previous research on the presence of a large population of blue crabs along the Moroccan coastline. These new locations may indicate the natural expansion of a previously introduced population in Tangier Med.