Crab, Lobsters & Scallops
The rich waters around the islands yield a bountiful harvest of wild shellfish
Landed within hours of being caught, local processors are committed to ensuring that the freshest shellfish – including crabs, lobsters and scallops – are prepared, packed and delivered direct to the customer, always maintaining superb quality.
Brown Crab
- Mainly caught by creel in Shetland’s inshore waters
- Females (hens) are caught on softer, sandy bottom. They tend to have more rich brown meat.
- Males (cocks) found on harder, rocky bottoms. Often have more sweet white meat.
- Fished all year round, but caught in higher numbers when water temperatures are warmer.
Velvet Crab
- Found on rocky substrates down to depths of 25m, tucked away in crevices
- Do not undertake extensive migrations
- Velvets get their name from the fine velvety texture of their shell
- Fast moving and aggressive.
![Hook-icon3 Hook-icon3](https://seafoodshetland.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Hook-icon3-50x50.png)
DID YOU KNOW?
Once considered a pest species, velvet crab have bright red eyes and are sometimes called the Devil or Witch crab.
![Hook-icon2 Hook-icon2](https://seafoodshetland.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Hook-icon2-50x50.png)
DID YOU KNOW?
Crabs walk sideways because of the way their legs are attached
Lobster
- Invertebrates that protect themselves with their hard exoskeleton
- Bottom dwellers – they like to hide on harder rock bottoms and natural reefs and rocks
- Out of 10,000 eggs it is thought that only 10 will survive
- They navigate by smell, taste with their feet, and listen with their legs.
Scallops
- Scallops and queen scallops thrive in Shetland’s cool, clear waters and are available all year round
- Surprisingly fast – they swim by rapidly opening and closing their shells
- Hermaphrodites – they are both male and female
- Filter feeder – suck and squirt water all day
- King Scallops can live up to 20 years although they are usually harvested at around 3 – 5 years.
![Hook-icon2 Hook-icon2](https://seafoodshetland.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Hook-icon2-50x50.png)
DID YOU KNOW?
Scallops have 60 – 100 blue eyes which detect light, dark and motion – usually from predators
![Hook-icon Hook-icon](https://seafoodshetland.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Hook-icon-50x50.png)
DID YOU KNOW?
Lobsters have 10 walking legs and blue blood
From sea to plate: crabs and lobsters
![Fish-Sea-to-Plate-Graphic-crabs Graphic indicating the lobster and crab journey, from sea to plate](https://seafoodshetland.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Fish-Sea-to-Plate-Graphic-crabs.jpg)
From sea to plate: scallops
![Fish-Sea-to-Plate-Graphic-scallops Graphic indicating the scallop journey, from sea to plate](https://seafoodshetland.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Fish-Sea-to-Plate-Graphic-scallops.jpg)