Invertebrates of Interest: Crabs

California's coastal waters are home to a multitude of invertebrates (species lacking a bony skeleton). A small fraction of these, including a variety of crab species, are actually targeted by California's recreational and commercial fisheries. In the following links, visitors can learn more about crab species identification, biology, habitat, geographic range, fishing methods, and more.

Note: Links with an asterisk (*) lead to pages outside the CDFW Marine Region website.

• California Dungeness Crab Catch by Season, 1915-2012
• California's Living Marine Resources - A Status Report (2001)
  Details the history, biology and fishery for the following species
  • Dungeness crab
  • Rock crab
  • Sand crab
  • Sheep crab
• Crab Identification
  Identification of the five common species of cancroid crabs, including Dungeness crab, slender crab, rock crab, red crab, and yellow crab
• Dungeness Crab of California and Its Close Relatives (1986)
  Dungeness and other cancroid crab identification, biology, range, and fishing methods
• Dungeness Crab Task Force
  Links to California Ocean Protection Council Website
• Life History Information for Selected California Marine Invertebrates and Plants
• Status of the Fisheries Report (2003)
  Overview of the fisheries through 2002 with historical references for the following species
  • Dungeness crab
  • Sheep crab
• Magazine and Newsletter Articles
  • Abalone and Red Sea Urchins Die During Red Tide in Northern California
    Marine Management News, October 2011
  • Creature Feature: Dungeness Crab
    Marine Management News, October 2009
  • Birth of a Fishery: A grooved Tanner crab fishery emerges off northern California
    Marine Management News, April 2005