The Solution to an Ecological Crisis: Soft-Shelled Crabs

We ate soft-shelled crabs for dinner last night. They were $3 each, which is about as cheap as they get here in the high-cost-of-living belt. But it made me think of a solution to the Asian shore crab crisis.

All crabs molt to grow, which means they all have a soft-shell stage. I suggest that someone who lives on the shore catch a bucketful of Asian shore crabs and keep them in a holding pen in the water, the way watermen in Maryland do. Observe them closely. When the shed, take the peelers into the kitchen, coat them in some flour, and saute them.

If they're good, we might have our own biological control of this invasive pest. Let me know and I promise to publicize the results.