Non-indigenous organism

The Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis Milne-Edwards, 1854 is a newcomer to the Baltic Sea. Previous studies have shown that since the 1940s single large specimens of this species have been caught annually in Polish waters. The invasion of the Chinese mitten crab has been reported from many European countries, including Poland, where it is especially abundant in the Odra Estuary. Of 186 specimens captured in Lake Dąbie in August 1998, 45 % were females and 55% males. The carapace width of these crabs varied between 53 and 88 mm and the average wet weight was 169 ± 45.3 g. 1