Invasion
Invasion Description
1st record: Egypt/Mediterranean Sea (1960, Nehring 2011)
Geographic Extent
75 km S of Adana/Turkey/Akyatan Lagoon (1959, Enzenrob et al. 1997); Cape Andreas-Cape Greco/Cyprus/Mediterranean Sea (1969, Enzenrob et al. 1997; 1986, Galil 2002); Isaknder-Fetiye/Turkey/Mediterranean Sea (10 locations, 1985-1995, Enzenrob et al. 1997, rare to abundant; Ozcan et al. 2005, abundant); St. Beirut/Lebanon/George Bay (1965, George and Athanassiou 1965); Israel/Heftsi-Bah, Alexander, Dalia, Na'aman Rivers (1951, Galil 2002); Egypt/Mediterranean Sea (1960, Nehring 2011); Egypt/Nile Delta Lakes (Edku, Manzallah, Borollos) (1957, Anonymous 1965, large population outbreaks in 1957-58, 1964-65; Nehring 1971)
Vectors
Level | Vector |
---|---|
Probable | Fisheries Intentional |
Regional Impacts
Economic Impact | Fisheries | |
Large population outbreaks occurred in lakes of the Nile Delta in 1957-1958, and 1964-65, breaking fishnets, killing fish, and interfering with more desirable crab fisheries ('red crabs', not identified) (Anonymous 1965). | ||
Ecological Impact | Competition | |
Accounts of C. sapidus population outbreaks in the Nile Delta in the 1950s and 1960s are suggestive of competition with native crabs ('red crabs', not identified) (Anonymous 1965). Zenetos et al. (2011) listed C. sapidus as 'invasive' in the eastern Mediterranean, also suggestive of competition. However, competitive effects of C. sapdius on other crabs or marine biota have not been studied in the Mediterranean. | ||