New disease in crabs and lobsters?

[rustferret]

New disease in crabs and lobsters?

OK i know a lot of people don’t agree with it but I do take the odd lobster or crab, but only for my own consumption.

Any way earlier this year I had a lobster that seemed fit and well, was not in berry (would never take them), but when I cooked it the shell didn’t go the normal red colour it was more a very bark mottled colour. When I opened it up there was what I can only describe as black crude oil like substance running in strings like a fungus through all the edible meat of the tail and claws. This was not a case of puncturing the gut.
My buddy had a lobster that was the same, and then last week I had two crabs that had the same problem.

I have never seen this before, and as a kid spent much of my youth in Cornwall and used to help the fishermen pull their pots and never herd of this.
These crustation have been caught off Bridlington, has any one any idea what this is as I have asked quite a few people and now one has come across this before, and I am concerned that maybe this is a new disease or a result of pollution.

Rustferret

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by rustferret

New disease in crabs and lobsters?

OK i know a lot of people don’t agree with it but I do take the odd lobster or crab, but only for my own consumption.

Any way earlier this year I had a lobster that seemed fit and well, was not in berry (would never take them), but when I cooked it the shell didn’t go the normal red colour it was more a very bark mottled colour. When I opened it up there was what I can only describe as black crude oil like substance running in strings like a fungus through all the edible meat of the tail and claws. This was not a case of puncturing the gut.
My buddy had a lobster that was the same, and then last week I had two crabs that had the same problem.

I have never seen this before, and as a kid spent much of my youth in Cornwall and used to help the fishermen pull their pots and never herd of this.
These crustation have been caught off Bridlington, has any one any idea what this is as I have asked quite a few people and now one has come across this before, and I am concerned that maybe this is a new disease or a result of pollution.

Rustferret

I've not heard of this either Are you getting them from the same small area? If you can pinpoint an area, it might be easier to find a cause.

Some years back I had some edible crabs off shore from Brighton. The sheels were ulcerated and wafer thin, even when hard. I only noticed when one disintegrated in my hand, just crushed in a normal grip

Adrian

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by rustferret

I am concerned that maybe this is a new disease or a result of pollution.

Rustferret

Might be worth calling the Fisheries people about it, what is it?

DEFRA?

[Stesh]

Originally Posted by rustferret

When I opened it up there was what I can only describe as black crude oil like substance running in strings like a fungus through all the edible meat of the tail and claws.

But they tasted okay?

[rustferret]

I wouldnt eat these looked descusting.

Have held off ringing fisheries incase its something simple......also dont know what they are like to deal with or if they are diver friendly.

Rustferret

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by rustferret

I wouldnt eat these looked descusting.

Have held off ringing fisheries incase its something simple......also dont know what they are like to deal with or if they are diver friendly.

Rustferret

Providing it's legal size and caught legally (you don't have as many restrictions as we have here), you'll have nowt to worry about.

I think they'll be pretty interested and if they're not, well the worst that happens is they say "Oooh nasty, lot of it about, thanks for coming."

[Hazel W]

ask a lobster fisherman ...... they will know .... mind you they might have some questions as to where you got it !


H

[clarkie]

Did you notice anything on the crabs underside? like a yellowish blob?
Andrea

[rustferret]

OK these crabs and lobsters have come from Flambourgh Head south side area.

I do not take from pots and do not condone such activerties!

The crabs looked fine but actually thinking about it one did seem to have a thin shell.

Rustferret

[clarkie]

The only thing I can think it might be is the parasitic barnacle Sacculina. It forms a yellowish blob when mature on the underside of the crab, but dark roots penetrate the parasitised animal prior to this.

have a look at this page 32

http://courses.missouristate.edu/Chr...0crustacea.pdf

Im unsure as to whether it parasitises lobsters though

Andrea