The blue crab is a species of swimming crab native to the Western Atlantic Ocean and the East Coast of North America and South America. The crab is an economically important species in the United States and numerous fisheries exist along the East Coast to harvest the crab for consumption. The crabs are omnivores, feeding on small animals like fish and invertebrates as well as plants and organic waste. Blue crabs can be found in the brackish (slightly salty) portions of the lower Bronx River.