The giant stone crab, scientifically known as *Menippe mercenaria*, is a robust crustacean native to the western Atlantic, particularly abundant along the southeastern coast of the United States, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. Renowned for their large, meaty claws, giant stone crabs are a prized delicacy, especially in the United States. The U.S., particularly the state of Florida, leads the world in commercial stone crab harvesting, with a well-regulated fishery that emphasizes sustainability by allowing only the claws to be taken before the crabs are returned alive to the water. Other countries with notable stone crab fisheries include Cuba, the Bahamas, and Mexico, all of which harvest these crabs both for domestic consumption and export. The industry is labor-intensive, relying on traps and careful handling to ensure the survival and regeneration of the crab population, making it a model for sustainable shellfish fisheries worldwide.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chile | 77 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.