On burdens and blessings of the blue crab: an anthropological reflection in times of ecological disenchantment

The blue crab (Portunus segnis), an invasive species in the Mediterranean, embodies the enduring legacies of ecological imperialism. Its introduction via the Suez Canal reflects broader processes of environmental manipulation, from colonial interventions to modern human reshaping of ecosystems. In the Kerkennah Islands (Tunisia), local fisherfolk, deeply connected to their maritime environment, have framed the crab’s proliferation as catastrophic: broken nets, mutilated fish, and physical injuries. Yet, this multispecies encounter reveals a complex dynamic: in less than 10 years, the blue crab has shifted from being a destructive intruder to an important economic resource for some. Drawing on ongoing ethnographic research, my intervention explores how the crab’s presence mediates tensions between life and death in an era of ecological disenchantment. How do historical legacies weigh on contemporary human-nonhuman relationships? What frictions, negotiations, and encounters emerge from these multispecies contingencies, and how do they reshape understandings of resilience and adaptation?