This is the migration of the blue crab in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Among the most awaited spectacles, as well as of great importance for both the species and nature, is the migration of the blue crab in Cancun, Quintana Roo, since the beautiful species of sapphire blue crustacean, makes a long journey full of obstacles and predators.

This is the migration of the blue crab in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico
What is the start of the blue crab migration in Cancun? Image by wurliburli from Pixabay

One of the most awaited spectacles, as well as of utmost importance for both the species and nature, is the migration of the blue crab in Cancun, Quintana Roo, since the beautiful species of sapphire blue crustacean, makes a long journey full of obstacles and predators, which has the sole purpose of depositing their small eggs in the sea.

The blue crab is one of the most beautiful and impressive looking species of crustaceans, since seeing them with the naked eye is completely fabulous to see that intense sapphire blue, which is its primary characteristic, walking through the mangrove, sand or road.

This incredible friend of the Mexican Caribbean coasts, has as its home the Nichupte Lagoon, located in Cancun's Hotel Zone, and every year, the blue crab carries out its migration in the months of September and October, when the moon reaches its peak and the rainy season is over.

When the crabs migrate it is because it is time to deposit their eggs to their new home where they will begin their new adventure and then do the same the following year.

Blue crabs only mate once in their entire lives, which is why the females go to great lengths to reach their new habitat and deposit the eggs from which the offspring of a new generation will hatch.

The dangerous mission that kills hundreds of blue crabs in Cancun

The idea of changing habitat in order to deposit the eggs seems simple, but it is not, because the blue crabs have a difficult mission, to go from the mangrove to the lagoon and their biggest obstacle is to cross a huge avenue.

The magical scene begins when thousands of blue crabs begin to cross the avenues, streets, or hotels to reach the lagoon to deposit their young, seeing it in person is simply magical, it is said that a female carries approximately 700,000 eggs, but the real terror begins when hundreds of them die crushed by vehicles, are killed by animals or simply people steal them for food.

In spite of this, authorities and ecological groups unite in campaigns for the protection of the blue crab to help them cross to their new home, young people and adults gather on the shores of the lagoon to stop automobile traffic while the crabs cross, they also help with containers where they deposit them to later leave them on the beach, as well as to raise awareness among citizens to take care of the species that is currently in danger of extinction.