The Vieques Project > NOAA Projects > Crab Sampling

NOAA Projects

Land Crab and Fiddler Crab Sampling

In 2005, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Response and Restoration (ORR) conducted an investigation to characterize chemical concentrations of hazardous substance in land crab (Cardisoma guanhumi) and fiddler crab (Uca spp.) from Vieques Island, Puerto Rico.   Land crabs are a popular food resource for island residents.  However, due to concerns of potential contamination, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has prohibited the harvesting of land crabs on refuge lands.  The USFWS will use the data to help determine whether selected refuge areas can be opened to harvesting of land crab.  The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) used the land crab data to conduct a human health consultation for the Vieques community.  In addition, portions of the data may also be used by the US Navy, United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board (EQB) as one component of the human health and ecological risk assessments that will be completed as part of the cleanup investigation. 

Based on input and assistance from the USFWS, USEPA, US Navy, Puerto Rico EQB, Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, NOAA developed a sampling plan and collected 5-6 land crab samples and 3 composite fiddler crab samples from 13 locations on Vieques and 1 location on mainland Puerto Rico.  The land and fiddler crabs were analyzed for explosive compounds, polychlorinated biphenyl’s (PCBs), chlorinated pesticides, and metals. 

Crab Sampling Reports:

• Executive Summary - English (302 kb PDF)
• Executive Summary - Espanol (309 kb PDF)
• Vieques Island Biota Sampling Project, Final Data Report (1.3 Mb PDF)
• ORR Vieques Crab Sampling Study - final report and supplemental documentation