Our objective was to determine the levity of the porcelain crab population residing in a given area on chicken island, we placed 2x2.5 foot crates in four different locations using kayaks to deploy them around the island near oyster beds, weekly we would check and record data from one crate to the next.

Green porcelain crabs in the Atlantic reach 0.4 - 0.6 inches shell width, though specimens from the Pacific grow significantly larger. These small, flat crabs are typically orange-brown to dark brown as adult. Juveniles are similarly colored, but have a lighter, speckled appearance. The claws are elongate, flattened, and equal. As is a characteristic for all porcelain crabs, the antennae are external. Not like in most other crab families.

Green porcelain crabs inhabit many different shallow inter-tidal and sub-tidal habitats.  They can be especially common in rock rubble, oyster reefs and among dock pilings. 

Grass ShrimpMangrove Snapper

Blue Claw Crab Oyster Toad Fish

Stone Crab Dolphins

Pistol Shrimp Common Mud Crab

Goby

Name # male # Female Total Number

Porcelain Crab 8 10 18

Common mud crab 10 12 22

Blue claw crab 2 3 5

Stone crab 1 1 2

Goby 4 5 9

Mangrove snapper 3 2 5

Pistol shrimp 4 2 6

AS you can see the number of green porcelain crabs is high because of their introduction into our ecosystem. If some thing is not done about this the number will climb even higher. Since porcelain crabs eat anything on the oysters and the dock pylons. Their numbers are strictly increasing and will soon over come the native species which is a big problem because the native crab population will decrease.

If something isn’t done about about the rising porcelain crab numbers then they will soon take over all of the ecosystems were crabs dwell. And destroy the oyster habitat for all species that use it for shelter.