Recent Advances in the Storage, Transportation, and Quality Control of Eriocheir sinensis: A Review

The Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis), as an aquatic food with high economic value, is favored by consumers for its high nutritional value and unique flavor. Its physiological status during temporary rearing and live transportation determines changes in meat quality, nutrition, flavor and food safety. Environmental stresses during this process are prone to inducing physiological disturbances in the crabs, resulting in reduced survival rates and degraded product quality. This paper systematically reviews the impacts of four pivotal environmental factors, namely dissolved oxygen (DO) levels, ambient temperature, water salinity, and ammonia nitrogen concentration, on the survival performance and quality maintenance of E. sinensis during temporary holding and live transport. It comprehensively clarifies the mechanisms through which fluctuations in these factors elicit physiological stress, oxidative damage, and metabolic disorders in the crabs while evaluating effective mitigation strategies such as gradient cooling and precise water quality regulation. In addition, key research gaps in the field are identified, including the lack of real-time vitality monitoring technologies and species-specific standardized transportation protocols, and future directions involving the integration of sensor technologies and adaptive environmental regulation are proposed. In summary, the survival status and quality of E. sinensis during temporary rearing and live transportation are synergistically regulated by various environmental factors. Developing scientific strategies can effectively mitigate the adverse effects of environmental stress, ensure food safety, and provide a theoretical basis for the live preservation, processing, and transportation of aquatic products.