Where in the Ecosystem Do Blue Crabs Live?

Blue crabs are omnivorous crustaceans that inhabit a wide range of waters around the world. Saltwater animals by nature, they can also be found in brackish water, a mix of saltwater and freshwater, where they are often harvested as a popular food source.

  1. Ecosystem

    • Blue crabs inhabit the aquatic ecosystem, primarily being found in the Atlantic ocean and commonly harvested within the Chesapeake Bay. They are bottom dwellers, scuttling across the sandy sea floor in search of food.

    Geography

    • While they are native to the Atlantic ocean and Chesapeake Bay, they can also be found along the Pacific coast and the Gulf of Mexico. Recently, the blue crab has also been observed within the Baltic, North and Mediterranean seas.

    Diet

    • Blue crabs are omnivores, and while roaming the sea bottom they will eat plants and scavenge from carrion. If food becomes scarce, they will quickly resort to cannibalism. This has been noted as a form of population control among the crabs.

    Predators

    • Blue crabs are preyed upon by eels, sharks, stingrays, spot, rockfish and sea lions on the Pacific coast. They are also a popular food item among humans and are harvested extensively for their meat, particularly in Maryland.

    Harvesting

    • Blue crabs are harvested using crab traps, or crab pots, that rest on the floor of the ocean. These traps are filled with bait, usually fish or chicken, and the crabs wander inside.