On the coast of the Black Sea in the National Nature Park «Tuzlov Estuaries», an astonishing number of swimming crabs have been washed ashore by the waves. This includes many females carrying eggs.

This was reported by ecologist Ivan Rusev on his Facebook page.

According to him, this phenomenon occurred due to upwelling — a process where cold water from the depths is brought to the surface. This occurrence is linked to temperature changes in the water and wind currents that elevate cold layers to the surface, resulting in the crabs being washed ashore.

Park staff and concerned local residents are making efforts to return as many live crabs as possible back to the water.

These crabs are renowned for their swimming abilities. Their fourth pair of legs is adapted for aquatic environments and resembles paddles. They typically reside at depths ranging from hundreds to thousands of meters.