Callinectes sapidus, “tasty, beautiful swimmers,” are common throughout Florida. Blue crabs are popular in both recreational and commercial fisheries.

Horseshoe crabs are important to both coastal communities and human health. Their eggs are an essential source of food for migratory shorebirds and some fish species.

The Spiny Lobster program is responsible for monitoring and developing models of South Florida’s spiny lobster populations and for conducting research on spiny lobsters.

Scientists in the Crustacean Fisheries program are determining the effectiveness of bycatch-reduction devices in shrimp trawls and are using genetic techniques to determine the stock structure of wild shrimp stocks in Florida.

Two stone crab species are found in Florida. They are closely related, readily interbreed, and are managed as one species by the fishing industry.