Soft Shell Crabs
In order for a hard crab to grow, it must periodically shed its old shell (molt) in order to grow a larger shell. Following a successful molt, the crab's new shell is extremely soft. After several days in the water, the new shell fully hardens and is about one-third larger in size.
Showing signs of moulting, peeler crabs are placed in shedding floats (or tanks) until they moult and become softs. |
Crabs must be checked many times a day so that they can be removed from the water immediately after moulting so that they are not eaten by other crabs and so their shells will not harden. |
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The live soft crabs are placed in waxed boxes and refrigerated until they are ready to be packaged. |
Sorted by size and placed in waxed boxes containing damp seaweed (eelgrass), these soft crabs are ready for shipment. |
