This is not a condemnation. This is just passing on some information. In fact, stone crab claws fall under the heading of "sustainable seafood". At least to an extent.
Let's review: stone crabs can regrow their claws. For that reason, they can be removed, and served up as a seafood dish. I've had them, though not for a few years. They're good.
And they're also a Best Choice from Seafood Watch.
Crab, Florida Stone (Seafood Watch)
But...
It should be obvious that taking a claw off a crab (sometimes both of them) wouldn't be harmless. So this study quantifies the harm. It's actually more harmful to wound them in the process than to take the claw (if that can be done without otherwise causing an injury).
So someone studied what happens to stone crabs when they have a claw taken.
How important are claws to stone crabs?
One thing I didn't realize was that sometimes they take both claws. And that puts the crabs at a considerably dietary disadvantage.
Now, this doesn't mean that I will pass on stone crab claws the next time I have a chance to have them. Like I said, they're good.
But they're not a free lunch. Nothing is.
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