The trade of live crustaceans in Portugal: space for technological improvements

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2008

Authors

barrento, s (Author) Other; marques, a (Author) Other; pedro, s (Author) Other; vaz-pires, p (Author) ICBAS; nunes, ml (Author) ICBAS

Journal

Title: ICES Journal of Marine Science

Vol. 65

Pages: 551-559

ISSN: 1054-3139

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 28 Citations

Scopus - 35 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Agrarian Sciences > Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-ZP2

DOI: 10.1093/icesjms/fsn037

Abstract (EN): In Portuguese coastal areas, crabs and lobsters maintained alive until prepared for the table are commercially and economically very important. The trade in live crustaceans, mostly imported animals, is an interlinked and complex chain, from fishing, collection, holding facilities, and transportation, to the end-consumer, the various facilities playing a key role. Along the chain, animals can be affected by several stressors, inducing high mortality with consequent economic loss, and contributing to unsustainable exploitation of the resource. A survey was developed to characterize storage, transportation, and handling issues affecting various crustaceans at Portuguese holding facilities. In all, 22 facilities were identified and categorized by activity and water supply system. Despite the wide variation in their infrastructure, there were no major differences in mortality rate of crustaceans between importers, wholesalers, and exclusively retailers. At all facilities, Necora puber, Cancer pagurus, and Carcinus maenas had higher rates of mortality and shorter duration of captivity than Maja spp., Homarus sp., Panulirus regius, or Palinurus sp. Overall, the main problems identified were technical issues related to careless handling, high animal density, and the varying physiological needs of each species.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9