See kanikama (also known as surimi) for more information on this creation. Many sushi restaurants will also offer a product known as imitation crab made from pollock or other fish. John via Wikimedia Commons Imitation Crab Blue crab from Florida is also an option when looking at kani sushi. Blue crabs that have just molted are often served as soft-shell crab in spider rolls. Some sushi bars in New York, Maryland, and other Eastern states use American blue crab in sushi, but elsewhere it is usually imported from Asia. It is generally caught in Asia or on the East Coast of the United States. Very little is known about blue swimmer fisheries, and it is unlikely that they offer crab populations or their habitats sufficient protection.īlue crab (and the similar blue swimmer crab) is the ubiquitous crustacean most often used in “crab meat” dishes. In the case of soft-shell crab, try to avoid imported blue swimmer crab. The Maryland and Virginia fishery has lately been the source of grave concern, with senators from both states calling for emergency regulations to deal with alarming stock declines. Heavy fishing pressures, habitat destruction, and the loss of juveniles as bycatch (animals caught unintentionally and discarded)-especially in the Gulf of Mexico-have challenged the resilience of this fishery. Stone crabs used in kani sushi are a sustainable option due to how they are harvested. Rarely found at sushi establishments, its native waters are usually restricted to the Gulf of Mexico and the southern reaches of the Eastern Seaboard. Stone crab is a small, thick-shelled crab from the southeastern United States. This is a strong fishery with a low mortality rate-a good option compared to king, snow, or blue crab. The crab is then returned to the water to regenerate its limb. When these crabs are harvested, only one claw is taken. Red snow crab from up north can be hit or miss on the sustainable sushi scale. Snow crab generally hails from Canada or Alaska. Snow crab (or “queen” crab) is a common alternative to king and is similar in texture. New management practices are aimed at stabilizing stocks, but their effectiveness has yet to be demonstrated. Source: Esther T on Unsplash Snow crabīoth Alaskan and Canadian stocks have been severely depleted in the past.
King crab is consider one of the best for sushi, but it’s also the most damaging. All of these fisheries have had severe problems with habitat destruction and overfishing in the past. These long-legged crustaceans stalk the depths of the northern Pacific and are harvested in Alaskan, Canadian, and Russian waters. King crab is usually considered the highest-quality crab available in the United States. Enjoy this crab in moderation, and choose it over Russian king crab, which is suffering from overharvesting, habitat destruction, and a general lack of management. Source: Unsplash King crabĪlaskan stocks are shaky at best, but Alaska is working on more effective management methods. Dungeness crab is just one type of crab used in sushi dishes.
It will almost always be specifically labeled “Dungeness” on the menu. When available, this is a delicious and sustainable choice for kani sushi.ĭungeness crab is rarely found outside the West Coast of the United States. Strong populations coupled with effective management have created a resilient and productive fishery. That can be the difference between a delicious kani sushi meal with sustainable crab, or contribute to a destructive process with dwindling populations.
Therefore it’s extremely important to understand what type of crab is being used and where it’s coming from. Kani sushi is a bit of a blanket term used in sushi restaurants for crab sushi dishes. Source: Janne Moren via Flickr What is kani sushi? Mercury Risk: Low Kani sashimi at a sushi restaurant in Osaka. By the end, you’ll know what kani sushi actually is (and which types to stay away from). But don’t get discouraged, though - it’s not as complicated as it seems. To make matters even more confusing, the crab may be from the United States, Canada, Russia, or Japan. Depending on how and where you order kani sushi, you may receive Dungeness crab, king crab, snow crab, stone crab, blue crab, or even kanikama or surimi, which isn’t really crab at all. At the sushi bar, “ crab sushi” is a category rather than a single animal.
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