The crustacean has the enviable distinction of being the only commercially harvested marine animal in the nation that doesn't have to die to provide food for humans. When a commercial fisherman, scuba diver or recreational stone crab hunter grabs the tasty claw, the animal simply lets go. The large claw also is the stone crab's principal weapon. A fully developed crab is strong enough to crush clams and oysters, so it easily can leave a human finger bruised, if not broken. So you have to be careful.
Nobody wants to break a finger trying to bring home dinner.
Then again, you don't want to injure the stone crab unnecessarily. State law requires the crab must be returned to the water alive after the claw has been removed. All rights reserved.