Brown Crab
Like a bread roll
We call our Scottish crab "brown crab" due to its distinct reddish-brown colour. It is also commonly known as the "edible crab", at least in the western world.
While we look at our brown crab and see a brown pie crust, for our friends in China, the brown crab looks more like a bread roll. Hence, in China it is referred to as 面包蟹 - "bread crab".
To ensure that we all talk about the same thing, we rely on latin names, which for the brown crab is "cancer pagurus".
Sweet and salty
Crabmeat has distinct sweet and salty notes, yet it is very delicate and not overpowering. The meat is deliciously soft and succulent.
You can actually find two types of meat in a crab. There's the brown meat, which is found right under the top shell, and white meat, which is found in the claws, legs and main body.
The brown meat is more paté-like, rich in flavour and perfect for making sauces. The white meat has a meaty and flaky texture, and is sweet and delicate in flavour, ideal for stir-frys and pastas!
Nutritional value
Brown crab is good for you!
Good source of protein
Rich in minerals
Copper, Zinc, Selenium, Magnesium
Rich in vitamins
B2
Omega-3 fatty acids
Crab is a great source of high quality protein. It contains as much protein per 100g as meats but without the same levels of saturated fats, which are linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
Hide and seek
Brown crab prefer to live in sheltered habitats such as rocky grounds, mixed coarse grounds and muddy sand. They are mostly in hiding and emerge to feed. Catching brown crab is like a game of hide and seek! They can be found throughout the North Sea and as far South as the North African coast, mostly in the intertidal zone down to a depth of 100m.
Sustainability
Brown crab is the most commercially important crab species in Western Europe and there are some restrictions for crab fishermen. To ensure stock levels remain at a sustainable level, minimum landing sized apply which differ from region to region. In Scotland the minimum landing size for brown crab is 150mm (except Sheltand) .
Our crab is caught using creels. This method of fishing is is environmentally friendly and has a minimal impact on the marine environment.
Packing and Shipping
Our brown crab are packaged with the utmost care to ensure they arrive in the best shape possible. We pack them in 15kg boxes. To keep the brown crab cool, we add ice packs to each box.
Our other products
Where to find us
Coastal Shellfish, Unit 1 Troon Fishmarket, Harbour Road, Troon, KA10 6DH Scotland, UK
Coastal Shellfish is a trading name of Coastal Diving & Marine Services Ltd, a company registered in Scotland SC341492. Coastal Shellfish is a trademark of Coastal Diving & Marine Services Ltd. Registered office: Unit 1 Troon Fishmarket, Harbour Road, Troon KA10 6DH.