Council killjoys warn children of dangers of crabbing - the CRABS get distressed

13 April 2012

When fishing for crabs, you'd be silly not to think about health and safety.

After all, those pincers could give the unsuspecting finger a nasty surprise.

But on the seawalls and quaysides around Wells, North Norfolk, this summer, the welfare concerns are all about the crabs.

Warning: Leaflets were issued along the North Norfolk coast saying how to handle crabs after they have been caught

Warning: Leaflets were issued along the North Norfolk coast saying how to handle crabs after they have been caught

As the schoolchildren head down to the seashore with their hooks, lines and buckets to see what they can catch, experts say they should pack a leaflet on crustacean care too.

About 10,000 leaflets will be handed out this weekend, following investigations by Cambridge University students, which revealed that overcrowding crabs in buckets could cause stress for the smaller ones and lead to fights.

Fishermen say children are sensible enough to work this out for themselves  -  and don't believe the leaflets are necessary.

But nature organisations say the creatures' welfare is a real concern.

The guide explains to youngsters how to look after any captives without causing them undue distress.

Anxious? A study says overcrowding in buckets distresses smaller crabs

Anxious? A study says overcrowding in buckets distresses smaller crabs

Instructions include:

• Keeping only ten crabs or fewer in a bucket at a time;

• Holding the captives in seawater  -  and changing the water every hour;

• Making sure your bucket isn't in direct sunlight.

Graduate Will Pearse explained: 'We are not saying people shouldn't go crabbing, which is fun. But there are concerns at the way in which they are treated. We want people to learn about crabs and understand their captive needs. If you are going to spend the day with something that is naturally beautiful then show it some respect.

'One of the main problems is that people put too many crabs in a bucket which results in some at the bottom asphyxiating through lack of oxygen in the water and males damaging each other in fights. In the sea males grapple with each other and the weaker one retreats. But they cannot run away in a bucket and keep fighting, leading to limbs being torn off or shed as a defence mechanism.'

However, local fishermen were not won over. John Davies, of Wells, said: 'Caring for crabs is a good message to send out, but this could be a little over the top.

'The crabs the youngsters catch are tiny and much more resilient than the edible ones we catch. Shore crabs are pretty indestructible. And I think most children look after them well. Youngsters get hours of fun out of it.'

Mike Richards, 44, of Cromer, Norfolk, said: 'Kids who catch crabs with a hook and line are generally pretty sensible and don't overcrowd or boil the crabs alive in the sun so this leaflet is a waste of time.'

Fifty miles along the coast, at Walberswick, Suffolk, the organisers of the British Open Crabbing Championships were quite taken aback by the guidance.

David Webb said: 'It does seem rather extraordinary that they are having to do this. They must treat crabs more harshly in Norfolk.

'Here when we hold the championship we insist on a maximum of two crabs in a bucket.'

Last year's winner, Oscar Kane, eight, from Kent, caught a crab of almost 6oz.

The leaflets, paid for by the Norfolk Coast Partnership and the Wells Fields Study Centre, may ensure the safety of the local crabs. But if you're uneasy about the fate of others, worry not: The scheme may well nip into neighbouring resorts soon.

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