Unusual crab washed ashore provides evidence for strong El Nino

Some people are seeing red on Central Coast beaches and it’s actually more evidence of the upcoming El Nino winter. A unique species called Pelagic Red Crabs have been spotted near Asilomar and Lovers Point in Pacific Grove, a species not usually seen here on the Monterey Bay.

“A three inch small crab, they’re red in color, they like to hangout with each other so you see them in these huge masses, billions and billions of these crabs together,” said Dan Albro of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

The Pelagic Red Crabs are normally found off the coast of Baja, Mexico, in the Southern Pacific where the waters are much warmer so they’re presence here on the Monterey Bay means much more than just a sight to see.

The El Nino hasn’t arrived yet but it’s already having an effect on the water temperatures, warming the Monterey Bay.

“These animals almost prefer warmer water, so if you give them warmer water, they’ll go as far north as they possibly can with it, and we’re seeing that right now,” Albro said.

The last time these Pelagic Red Crabs traveled this far north was ahead of the 1982-83 El Nino winter.

“They come up as far as they have this time, it really means we got some warm water coming up,” said Francisco Chavez, a Senior Scientist at MBARI, an expert on El Nino.

Because of the warmer waters we’re experiencing this time of the year, these little red crabs are another sign of things to come.

“This will be a strong El Nino, the strongest since ’97-’98, it’s now just a question of how big,” said Chavez.

These Pelagic Red Crabs here on the Monterey Bay will be around as long as the habitat permits.