This is enough to deter many bathers from entering the water. Thousands of spider crabs have been seen on the beaches of Cornwall, England. They have invaded the ground of the shallow waters of the seaside resort of St Ives, reports The Guardian.
These crustaceans are migratory in nature: they tend to congregate in large numbers in shallow water for protection from predators when they shed their shells, and are therefore vulnerable from April to late summer.
“I dive all year round, but I’ve never seen crabs in such numbers. When we got to the beach, there seemed to be a lot of dark rocks below the surface, but it turned out there were thousands of crabs.” in the water,” says guardian Kate Lowe, marine photographer.
Climate change in question
Experts say that while it’s not unusual to see them in UK waters, these mass gatherings are becoming more common in the summer due to rising sea temperatures linked to the climate crisis.
Spider crabs wait for their new exoskeleton to thicken and harden. They then return to the depths, sometimes going up to 90 meters underwater.
These aquatic creatures are very recognizable by their long legs and claws, but they are harmless to humans. However, his presence on Porthgwidden beach was enough to dissuade some beachgoers from entering the sea.
“Lots of tourists were screaming at the sight of them. Their shells were floating everywhere,” Kate Lowe continues.
Source: BFM TV
