A new record of Callinectes sapidus in a western European estuary (Portuguese coast)

Abstract

This paper confirms the occurrence of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus , in a Portuguese estuary (Sado estuary), demonstrating a full south-western extension of the species distribution along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts bordering the European continent. The present record associated with current and previous anecdotal occurrence reports suggests that the blue crab has established a population in the Sado estuary but with low census size.