They have accumulated on Cornwall’s beaches due to rising sea temperatures caused by climate change.
Which discourages many swimmers from getting in the water. Thousands of spider crabs have been spotted on the beaches of Cornwall, England. They have bottomed out in the shallow waters of the seaside resort of St Ives, reports The Guardian.
These crustaceans are migratory by nature: they usually congregate in large numbers in shallow waters to protect themselves from predators when they shed their shells, and are therefore vulnerable from April to late summer.
“I dive all year round but I have never seen spider crabs in such numbers. When we got to the beach it looked like there were a lot of dark rocks below the surface, but it turned out there were thousands of crabs in the water,” Kate Lowe, a marine photographer, told the Guardian.
climate change in question
Experts say that while it is not uncommon to see them in UK waters, such massive summer gatherings are becoming more common due to rising sea temperatures linked to the climate crisis.
Spider crabs are waiting for their new exoskeleton to grow thicker and harder. Then they return to the depths, sometimes going up to 90 meters under water.
These aquatic creatures are highly recognizable by their long legs and claws, but they are harmless to humans. However, their presence on Porthgwidden beach was enough to deter some bathers from going into the sea.
“Many tourists screamed at the sight of her. Their grenades were flying everywhere,” Kate Lowe continues.