Giant Scandinavian crabs land on Britain’s shores and threaten local brown crab population

They have scuttled through Scandinavian waters and muscled their way into Britain.

Now invasive king crabs have landed in the pots of Yorkshire fisherman off the coast of Bridlington.

There are fears that the native brown crab could be under threat with the arrival of the red king crabs which can grow close to 6ft across and weigh up to 28lb.

The species, which are native to North America, came to Russia in the 1960s after scientists aimed to introduce a new, lucrative market.

Invasive red king crabs, which can grow close to 6ft across and weigh up to 28lb, have landed in the pots of Yorkshire fisherman off the coast of Bridlington. [File picture]

There are fears that the north east’s native brown crab (pictured) population could be under threat

The king crabs then headed to Norway, spiking a fishing industry boom before finding their way to Britain.

Despite fears for the native population, the invaders have proved a winner with London restaurants so far with many snapping up the haul for their menus.

Will Murray, a chef at sustainable central London restaurant Fallow, told The Daily Telegraph: ‘They’re quite a tricky crab to prep, they have got very long spines on, but the meat is just sublime.’

Despite fears for the native population, the Scandinavian king crab (pictured) invaders have proved a winner with London restaurants so far with many snapping up the haul for their menus

Shaun Henderson, of Henderson Seafood, said he is planning to sell more than 200 crabs to London restaurants and the public.

His company plans to sell them for £30 a kilo, a similar price to that charged for lobster, and roughly three times the expected price for a brown crab.

But he added: ‘I’m excited about it but they seem like quite an invasive species, so I feel wary. 

‘They seem to be eating up the scallops at the bottom and they could outcompete brown crabs. I am a bit worried about our native seafood.’