AIBU regarding crabs.

[bellarations]

My dc and I went crabbing, it was very good fun and everyone that I saw, with the exception of one family/group returned their bucket of crabs to the sea.
The family/group in question caught masses of crabs, I kid you not two big buckets almost full, they put a bag on top of one bucket and left it to one side, they then returned the other bucket into the sea, walking off with the full bucket of crabs hidden under a bag. The hiding of crabs leads me to think they knew they shouldn't have been taking them home.
So AIBU to think the crabs have been stolen or can you keep them?

Crabs you say?

What can't you keep crabs?

Not that I would. But can't you?

Are you concerned about theft or animal welfare?

It's a bit shellfish for sure.

You got a dirty mind you right there.

There's no law says you have to return them. But the ones you catch are usually too small to be much good to eat - they won't have much sweet juicy flesh. The family will most likely end up with a plate of shell, guts and watery gack. But you can take them home if that's what you really want.

Maybe they were taking them home to eat?

Surely the only reason that would justify disturbing/ frightening an animal would be to eat it.

You're going to have to contact crabdetectivesrus.co.uk

oh that kind of crabs... sorry nothing helpful to offer here.

at all the jokes.
I've no idea if you can/should not take them? I'm genuinely interested, especially after all the comments about picking wild flowers earlier in the year.

What's the point of gathering them if you're not going to eat them? Is it illegal to keep them?

I see your point TIGER actually made my laugh out loud, but surely if everyone did it.....

Strawberry . Not animal welfare exactly because I assumed they intended to eat them. I even made a joke with the family by saying "crab soup?" But they ignored me !!!!

Stef. For fun, crabbing is a great past time for dc (and adults).

There is no law about collecting crabs as far as I know.

Go to a beach in Brittany and you will come across loads of locals foraging for seafood and shellfish for dinner.

I've never been crabbing, but ffs surely you eat them? If not why bother? Really ? Help?

If you read tigers post up thread I don't think you would be tempted to eat them.

We have lovely sweet local crabs and lobsters in Scotland, nothing like tigers description.

tatty- even if you don;t want to eat them it's great fun. Unlike fishing for fish, there are no hooks involved and the crabs are unharmed. Brilliant fun for kids.

I thought you just played with them for a while then threw them back.

Those poor crabs will either be dumped in boiling water or just allowed to die a slow, distressing death with those people.

I've no idea if you can/should not take them? I'm genuinely interested, especially after all the comments about picking wild flowers earlier in the year.

Well I am vehemently opposed to people picking wild flowers, but surely catching crabs to eat just counts as foraging doesn't it? Would you mind if they had picked a bucket of blackberries or a basket of mushrooms?

YANBU they would be crap to eat therefore it's cruel to just whisk them away rather than put them back. I remember my husband foraging for 'things' on a beach once years back while on holiday. He found a load of cockles and washed, cooked and ate them and was fine - I wasn't tempted to try them though!

On the other hand I hate crabbing with a passion (despite being the only one of five in the family that feels this way!) so I tend to take a book and refuse to engage even when a crab is being shoved in my face by a horrible boy who doesn't understand why I'm not dead impressed... I've threatened to divorce him many times