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

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.