The Florida stone crab fishery: Trophic shifts, parasitic associations, and nutritional impacts

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of the stone crab (Menippe spp.) fishery practice of claw removal on parasitology, physiological condition, and trophic ecology, with the goal of understanding the long-term effects on crab fitness at two locations on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Despite the economic significance of Menippe spp., the potential ecological and biological consequences of claw removal have not been fully explored. Our findings reveal several potentially pathogenic symbiont associations, including two novel viral pathologies (Nudiviridae and Reoviridae), Hematodinium perezi, and bacterial hepatopancreatic necrosis, which are of concern due to their impact on other crustacean populations and fisheries. While crabs missing or regenerating claws showed reduced nutritional condition, there was no significant difference in symbiont prevalence or isotopic niche between declawed and intact crabs. However, clawless crabs were infested with 99 % more gill barnacles, Octolasmis mülleri, than intact crabs. Although gill barnacles are generally regarded as commensal or opportunistic, this finding may suggest subtle shifts in susceptibility or exposure associated with claw loss. These results provide a deeper understanding of the trade-offs associated with claw removal in stone crab fisheries and underscore the need for ongoing monitoring of symbionts and pathogens in fished populations. Ultimately, the study contributes to a broader understanding of the sustainability of the fishery and the ecological consequences of fishing practices on stone crab health.