Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter writes on June 3rd that a Chinese crab has been found in Swedish waters. The crab has invaded German coasts and is more and more often caught in the Stockholm archipelago and in Lake Mälaren.
The first Swedish found was already in 1932 but until 2005 only few specimen were found. After that there have been thousands of findings and in Lake Vänern and the west of Lake Mälaren, fishermen can catch hundreds at the same time.
The crab originates from China but can be found in Europe and North America nowadays, as it travels in the ballast tanks onboard vessels. They come onboard as small crabs and travels from port to port, spreading and growing.
Researchers are now trying to find out if the crab reproduce in our waters. If that is the case they might threaten fishery and birdlift as it has barely no natural enemies here.
Read more about the issue with ballast water and the Wallenius Water and Alfa Laval product PureBallast