Transportation methods for Southern king crab: From fishing to transient storage and long-haul packaging

Abstract Live transport of crustacean species is a relatively recent practice that increases the fisheries trade’s chain of profits, without increasing the fishing effort. However, there are few biological and technological studies on developments to enhance animal welfare, reduce mortality rates and consequently avoid economic losses. We aimed to study different transportation and packaging methods to improve the live market practices for the Southern King Crab Lithodes santolla (SKC). To achieve this goal, we conducted two live transport experiments. In the first, crabs were fished and taken (under semi-dry conditions) to the shore either stacked or with free-mobility and then placed in aquaria for recovery. The second experiment consisted of a transport simulation of SKC packed with either Macrocystis pyrifera or burlap bags, as moist materials. In both experiments, we recorded crab vigor and hemolymph metabolites to assess the stress after transportation and during re-immersion. We found that the stress produced by transport to shore disappeared after 48 h of re-immersion in aquaria with seawater re-circulation. Also, burlap bags as packing moist material for long-haul transport decreased the transportation-produced stress and enhanced the recovery of SKC, compared to M. pyrifera packaging. We conclude that crab re-immersion in a stocking center immediately after fishing is essential for the live market, especially to allow survival during further transportation. Additionally, improvements in packing materials not only increase future market earnings, but also improve animal welfare and environmental safety.