Blue Swimmer Crab (Nila kekra)

Introduction

Also known as flower crab, fresh blue crab is one of the beautiful crabs locally available. Blue crab is a powerful swimmer and voracious hunter and scavengers. The fresh blue crab is abundant in the Arabian sea and has a stable supply and demand curve. Local availability can be affected tending to increase in international exports.

Flavor Profile

The blue swimmer crab has a rich, sweet, succulent, and buttery flavor. The body meat is delicately flavored, while claw meat is nutty. Fresh blue-crab meat should have a mild aroma; pasteurized should have a slight, “heated” aroma

Nomenclature

• English Name: Blue crab, Blue Swimmer Crab, Flower Crab
• Local Name: Kekra, Nila Kekra, Blue Kekra, Soda, Kukri, Gogotanga
• Scientific Name: Portunus segnis

Habitat

Blue Swimmer Crabs are normally found under the rocks, over the reefs, and sometimes on sandy bottoms.

Catching Method

Blue swimmer crabs are caught using gillnets, and bottom trawls.

Physical Attributes

The blue crab’s shell—called the “carapace”—is a blue to olive green. Shells can reach up to 9 inches across. Blue crab claws are bright blue, and mature females have red tips on their claws too. They have three pairs of walking legs and rear swimming legs that look like paddles.

Appearance

Male blue swimmer crabs are with dark blue-green carapace and discrete white spots on the carapace, sometimes merging into thin reticulated bands. Females are similar in pattern to males except that tips of chelipeds are red-tinged with a brownish-red instead of blue tinged with deep rust red.

Size

On average, Blue Swimmer Crabs are 100 to 200 grams in weight, However other sizes are also occasionally available.

Peeling Preferences

Blue Swimmer Crabs are preferred to be used as Whole

Approx. Peeling Yields

• Whole: 100 %
• Claws and legs removed: 70 %
• Shell Removed: 35 %
• Meat only: 15 %

Cooking Preferences

Blue Swimmer Crab is preferred to Grill, BBQ, and to be used in soups and broths.

Health Benefits

• Heart friendly
• Lowers Blood Pressure
• Improves Immune System
• Strengthens the bones
• Improves Skin and Hair health