Handling time and predation behaviour by the crab, Cancer pagurus , preying on cultured scallop, Pecten maximus

We investigated handling time, persistence time and shell-breaking techniques by crab, Cancer pagurus (L.) (13–15 cm carapace width), offered cultured scallops, Pecten maximus(L.), within the recommended release size for bottom culture. Three shell height groups were used: 50–55, 60–65 and 70–75 mm. The results showed that the crabs managed to open scallops from all the three size groups. The median handling time in the 50–55 mm group (788 s) was significantly different from the median handling time of the 60–65 mm (2482 s) and 70–75 mm (2980 s) groups. The median persistence time increased significantly with each scallop size, from 89 s in the 50–55 mm group to 97 s in the 60–65 mm and 125 s in the 70–75 mm group. We observed a change in the shell-breaking techniques from a dominance of smashed scallops in the 50–55 mm group to more punched and chipped scallops in the 60–65 and 70–75 mm groups. The shift in predation behaviour when crabs were offered 50–55 mm scallops compared with the larger groups is discussed in relation to strategies in the release of scallops to seabed cultures.