On the occurrence of angular crab (Goneplax rhomboides, Linnaeus 1758) in the German Bight, North Sea

In summer 2006, an unfamiliar crab occurred for the first time in the bycatch of FRV “SOLEA” in the German Bight. It was determined to be Goneplax rhomboides only when it was found again during the brown shrimp survey in winter. Further specimens were caught in later surveys of FRV “SOLEA” and with different gears at water depths from 39 to 49 m in 2007, 2009 and 2010, indicating a widespread distribution of that species also in the south-eastern North Sea. It is normally known to inhabit sub-littoral waters of the eastern Atlantic from the western parts of the British Isles down to the Mediterranean Sea.