Local delicacy a snip at $3

Press, 14 August 1980, Page 1

Local delicacy a snip at $3

Mr- Mike Sultan with two of the fearsome-look-ing Spider crabs which he hopes will one day be as high on the list of New Zealand seafood delicacies as crayfish and oysters. The crabs, believed to be the first offered fresh for sale in Christchurch, attracted plenty of attention yesterday, in the window of Mr Sultan’s shop, Edgeware Fish Supply, Ltd, in Edgeware Road, St Albans.

Some weighed more than 2.5 kg, but most are about Ikg. Mr Sultan is selling the

Spider crabs at $3 a kilogram, in an effort to encourage the public to try them. “They have a beautiful flavour, much like Cray-

fish.. They are a delicacy in most parts of the world, and I have wondered for a long time why New Zealanders do not eat them” said Mr Sultan,

who comes from Saudi Arabia.

The "Spider crabs were caught “at a secret location” by Lyttelton fishermen, in exactly the same manner as crayfish, using baited pots. They are also caught off Kaikoura.

Mr Sultan bought 400 kg of the crabs, which are selling fast. • “I will continue to sell them. They will catch on in a big way once people have tried them,” he said.