European distribution
The rapid spread of Eriocheir sinensis across northeast Europe from 1912-1937
The Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis, was first recorded in Europe in 1912, when a large male was captured from the River Aller in Germany.
The species proceeded to spread rapidly throughout Europe during the 1920s and 1930s, invading all of the major rivers - including the Oder, the Elbe, the Vistula and the Rhine - and occurring as far north as Sweden and Finland.
Baltic Sea countries
It is unknown whether the crabs found in countries surrounding the Baltic Sea are part of established populations, as the water’s low salinity may prevent egg development.
Netherlands
In the 1940s the migrating crabs became a major problem in the Netherlands: during the autumn migration period up to a tonne of these animals were caught on a daily basis, impeding fisheries.
France
Substantial numbers of crabs were captured from the River Seine in France until the late 1990s when scientists noticed a great decline in population. Possible explanations put forward include increasing pollution levels, or that low temperatures experienced over a number of extremely cold winters contributed to large numbers of larvae dying. Mitten crabs spread to the Languedoc lagoons in southern France via the Garonne canal system and have also been caught in the Golfe de Gascogne.
Portugal
The southernmost Atlantic coast record to date was made in the late 1980s, when local fishermen reported capturing mitten crabs from the Tagus estuary, Portugal. From 1988 to 1990 the crab was abundant within this estuary and was found up to 80km upstream from sea. Since then, however, this population has decreased in numbers.
Black Sea
Towards to the eastern boundaries of Europe, populations of mitten crab appear to have become established in the Black Sea, and the Sea of Aazov. Mitten crabs have also been captured from the Volga River Delta and the Cheboksary and Rybinsk Reservoirs.
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Publication detailing the most recent Volga River records:
Shakirova FM, Panov VE, Clark PF (2007) New records of the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853, from the Volga River, Russia. Aquatic Invasions 2(3): 169-173.