Snow Crab Vs Blue Lobster
Seafood certainly is a wide topic, but we’re going to be comparing one aquatic creature in specific as we uncover the differences between the snow crab and the blue lobster. A field trip more than a direct sentence, these oceanic creatures go well beyond being interesting animals, but are an important part of gastronomy and the economy.
What is a Snow Crab?
Snow Crabs sometimes called Chionoecetes are a species of crab found in the cold waters of the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. They’re sweet and delicate and are a favorite of seafood cuisine. Snow crabs are known for their long, spindly legs and a relatively small body.
What is a Blue Lobster?
A Blue Lobster or Homarus americanus, is a colour morph or variant of the American lobster. Their blue colour is caused by a genetic mutation leading to an overproduction of a specific protein. This species can be found along the Atlantic coast of North America, and it is especially prized for its flesh and exquisite coloring.
Habitat and Distribution
Snow crab habitat. photo supplied by the author The habitat of these distinctive-looking crustaceans is cold, sandy or muddy seabed near the bottom of deep (50-200 meters) waters. The North Atlantic, on the east coast of Canada and Greenland, is traditionally their main home.
Blue Lobster Habitat Blue lobsters live in the Atlantic Ocean, from the North Carolina coast to Newfoundland. They prefer rocky coastal regions where they can hide in fissures, and hunt for food and prey. Shallow, cool water is the perfect place for them to live.
Physical Characteristics
Snow Crab Appearance Habitat
When cooked, crabs turn bright orange. The male crab has long feathery legs spanning up to 2 feet in length. The body is relatively small and reddish-brown. The jointed legs bear small spines used for gripping the seabed.
Appearance of a Blue Lobster
Blue lobsters are one of nature’s most beautiful creations; they have dazzling blue shells, and their bodies are a dim, greyish-blue. Their bright coloring comes from a mutation in their genetic makeup which causes them to produce too much of the pigment crustacyanin. Blue lobsters have a similar overall structure to other lobsters, with two long, spiky claws and a segmented body.
Diet and Feeding Habits
Snow Crab Diet
Snow crab is a generalist feeder. It catalyzes a range of organisms including small fish, mollusks and other crustaceans in its diet. It claws its prey causing the loss of nutrition of prey. Snow crab gains nutrients from its diverse food in cold nutrient-rich waters.
Blue Lobster Diet
Blue lobsters usually feed on fish, molluscs, and other marine invertebrates. These creatures are opportunistic feeders who often feed on scavenged food items under the seabed. Large claws help them to break shells and extract the meat within.
Lifespan and Reproduction
How Long Do Snow Crabs Live?
Life spans 10 to 15 years. Sexual maturity 4 to 5 years old. Female snow crab bears fertilized eggs under its abdomen until they hatch to ensure security for the next generation.
How Long Do Blue Lobsters Live?
According to a study published in 2006, blue lobsters can live up to 50 years, but their lifespan in the wild is around 15 to 20 years. They sexually mature when they are between five and seven years old. Female blue lobsters carry thousands of eggs on their swimmerets, from which hatch larvae that swim as plankton.
Economic Importance
Snow Crab at the Market
Snow crabs are a valuable species for the seafood industry, especially in North America and Japan. They are succulent flesh-eating crustaceans that contain amounts of nutrition. A live snow crab consists of three major parts – body, claws, and legs. After being dead, only the claws and legs would be processed for human consumption – frozen, canned or fresh. Snow crab legs are a famous decorative steaming or boiling component found on my dining table
Blue Lobsters in the Market
Blue lobsters are less common and usually better priced in the market because they are more of a novelty. They are prized when they are caught because of their colour and are very appealing as a specialist disorder they usually command a higher price. Most are likely to be displayed in an aquarium before they are cooked and eaten.
Culinary Uses
Snow Crab Dishes
The versatility of snow crab meat makes it a delicious ingredient in a wide variety of meals such as main courses, salads, and sushi. The sweet and succulent flavor makes it a delightful component of crab legs, crab cakes or crab rolls.
Blue Lobster Meat Dishes
Blue lobster meat is prized by gourmets and chefs, and is usually prepared in expensive restaurants. I rarely dine at fancy restaurants, but I had one of my best meals at a place in Redondo Beach, California, on Mother’s Day, when we indulged in a multi-course lobster meal. The meat has a tender texture and a slight sweetness. When I buy a whole lobster, I often cook the entire thing and then carve it up for meals over the next day, serving it with lobster bisque, rolls, and grilled lobster. Blue lobster meat doesn’t taste any different from red lobster meat – it’s just that you don’t get it as often. The colour is nice because it adds an exotic quality to the presentation.
Nutritional Value
Nutritional Benefits of Snow Crab Meat
Snow crab meat contains virtually no fat and is rich in protein, making it a healthy food choice. Moreover, like all crustaceans, it is a rich source of various vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B12, zinc and selenium. Thus, it is a perfect addition to a healthy, well-balanced diet.
Blue Lobster Nutritional Profile Blue Lobster Meat
Blue lobster meat is similar, with high protein and low fat but also omega-3 fatty acids for heart health. The flesh provides most of our essential nutrients, making it a nutritious seafood option.
Fishing Methods
How Snow Crabs are Caught
Snow crabs are generally caught with baited traps or pots, which are placed, or dropped, to the sea floor. Once the trap is in place, it remains for a period of time before being trawled to the surface. This helps to sustain the crab population while minimizing bycatch and environmental impact.
How Blue Lobsters are Caught
These unique blue lobsters are caught with the same traps and pots that are used to catch normal lobsters. Since they are quite rare, it is often the procedure to keep one alive to show it off before it is sold. Unfortunately, they are vulnerable to their own popularity. The methods that are used are sustainable, so the population is not overfished.
Sustainability and Conservation
Fishery Management Quotas and seasonal restrictions are measures set into place to avoid overfishing of these populations. While several approaches exist in snow crab aside from the total allowable catch, proper management of exports from Canada is in place. Also, their habitat is protected, as are their life cycles.
Blue Lobster Conservation Blue lobsters are caught and benefit from the same conservation measures as other lobsters. They are usually released back into the wild when caught because of their rarity. Conservationists and writers can write about them to help inform people on the importance of these rare marine creatures.
Popularity and Demand
Why People Like Snow Crab
They are sweet, soft, and not smelly. They have different ways to cook. The most popular seafood in the world. The price is not high enough, which makes them the most popular seafood around the world.
Why People Go Crazy For Blue Lobster
Essentially, due to rarity and colour. They are also seen as a luxury item, with lobster news websites in the US occasionally writing up extraordinary instances of being sold whole for tens of thousands of dollars. The rare, magical variants are good for entertainment, and the ones sporting such a pretty shade of blue can be cooked and eaten.
Cultural Significance
Snow Crab in Culture
Snow crabs are cultural icons in areas where they are a mainstay of the diet, with harvest festivals and celebrations common from Japan to Alaska, as well as traditional dishes and local cuisine.
Blue Lobster in Culture
Blue lobsters, for their part, are symbols of rarity thanks exactly to their uniqueness. Accordingly, they play an important role in folklore and legends, and when caught they are rightly proudly displayed. Their rareness makes them interesting to marine biologists and to those concerned with conservation.
Snow Crab and Blue Lobster
They are awesome creatures of the sea. Although they come from different families of decapods, they have their own special taste to the human mouth. That’s an experience of marine cuisine! Also they have their own looks, with the beautiful blue colour of a lobster and the quick green eyes and orange legs of a snow crab. You must agree with me that though they look different, their lives are as beautiful as the ocean, possibly the most beautiful part of it.
FAQs
How come a Blue Lobster is Blue?
The blue lobster has a blue colour because of a genetic mutation that causes the overproduction of a protein, called crustacyanin, that binds to a red pigment in its shell, called astaxanthin, causing it to appear blue.
Are Snow Crabs Eco-friendly?
Yes, snow crabs are abundant because they are fished responsibly. They are harvested with the help of organizations like the International Pacific Halibut Commission, who monitor quotas and ensure no crabs are ever overfished.
How often do you see a Blue Lobster?
Blue lobsters are extremely rare, with one blue lobster reported for every 2 million lobster, hence their popularity in the seafood industry.
Can you eat Blue Lobster?
Yes, blue lobster meat is definitely edible and is considered a delicacy by many people. The meat tastes the same as normal lobster meat but is sometimes preferred as it comes from a lobster of a different colour.
Where can I buy Snow Crabs or Blue Lobsters?
Snow crabs are found in the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans and blue lobsters are found along the Atlantic coast of North America. Both can be found in seafood markets and restaurants. Blue lobsters are considerably rarer than the more common snow crabs.
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