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Harvesting Practices and Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) of Bahamian Land Crabs: Bridging Gaps Between Traditional and Scientific Knowledge
by
, , and
Iain J. McGaw
1,*,
Michael T. McSweeney
1,
William F. Bigelow
1,2,
Kaitlyn T. Gaitor
3,
Scott G. Seamone
3,
Owen R. O’Shea
1,4,
Nicholas D. Higgs
2,
Candice Brittain
2 and
Michelle T. Kuenzi
5 1
Department of Ocean Sciences, 0 Marine Lab Road, Memorial University, St John’s, NL A1C 5S7, Canada
2
Cape Eleuthera Institute, Rock Sound, Eleuthera P.O. Box EL-26029, Bahamas
3
Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Science Institute, Queens Highway, San Andros, North Andros, Bahamas
4
Centre for Ocean Research and Education, 241 Ruth Blvd, Longwood, FL 32750, USA
5
Department of Political Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2025, 15(20), 2941; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15202941
Submission received: 5 September 2025
/
Revised: 29 September 2025
/
Accepted: 3 October 2025
/
Published: 10 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Human-Animal Interactions, Animal Behaviour and Emotion)
Simple Summary
This study used surveys to examine the local ecological knowledge and harvesting practices for land crabs across The Bahamas. While crab capture rates and species preferences varied among the islands of Andros, New Providence, and Eleuthera, residents consistently identified similar conservation concerns. Habitat destruction and overharvesting emerged as primary threats to white and black crab populations. Additional challenges included forest fires on Andros and invasive raccoons on Eleuthera. Local crabbers demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of black crab ecology, providing insights that both supported and expanded existing scientific knowledge. Beyond their role as a food source, land crabs held significant cultural and economic value for Bahamian communities, highlighting the importance of sustainable management practices for these species.
Abstract
Three species of land crab occur in The Bahamas; these are an important source of protein and income for Bahamian islanders. The crab harvesters represent an important and largely untapped knowledge source. We conducted surveys on the Bahamian islands of Andros, New Providence, and Eleuthera to document crabbing practices and catalogue this local ecological knowledge (LEK) of land crabs. The survey primarily employed close-ended questions targeting land crab harvesters; we also recorded general feedback from open-ended questions. Crab collection was primarily for self-consumption. Catch rates varied among islands, and were the highest on Andros. There was a preference for white land crabs (Cardisoma guanhumi) on Andros, whereas on Eleuthera and New Providence, there was no preference for either white or black crabs (Gecarcinus ruricola). The majority of respondents reported a decline in white and black crab numbers, with land development and overharvesting being consistently cited factors. On Andros, forest fires were also reported to account for the loss of crab habitat, whereas on Eleuthera, invasive raccoons were blamed for the population decline. Respondents identified broadleaf forests as critical refuges and food sources for black crabs. Birds were the major predator, confirming findings for other land crab species. Land crabs were not merely a food resource but represented a complex nexus of ecological knowledge, economic systems, cultural traditions, and community practices within Bahamian society. We demonstrated a substantial overlap between traditional and scientific knowledge systems, providing valuable insights into land crab behaviour, habitat use, and ecology that complements formal scientific research.
Keywords:
Cardisoma guanhumi; crabbing; feeding; Gecarcinus ruricola; habitat; predators
