CELEBRITY chef and Dartmouth seafood expert Mitch Tonks is on a mission to make South Devon crab a world-famous dish.

The owner of the acclaimed Seahorse eatery and soon-to-open RockFish restaurant is fronting a national campaign encouraging people to visit South Devon to eat locally- sourced crab.

He launched the Have a Cracking Time in South Devon campaign at the Seahorse yesterday.

He said: "We have the best crab in the world right on our doorstep — let's make the most of it."

The campaign, backed by local businesses and Shaldon chef Tim Bouget of up- market eatery Ode, is being promoted through the Visit South Devon tourism partnership.

The high-profile campaign is aimed at enticing visitors to the region to try locally- fished crab.

Dishes featuring crustaceans will be highlighted at food events across the region, including Shaldon Water Festival in August and October's Dartmouth Food Festival.

There will also be crab workshops and a new logo has been drawn up which businesses can display to show their support for the campaign.

A new website has been created, with recipes from top chefs, including Mitch and Tim.

Mitch believes South Devon crab is the best in the world — and with plentiful and sustainably fished stocks, he says there is more than enough to go around.

He said: "I think this is going to be a great campaign. We live with one of the greatest fishing areas in the world right on our doorstep.

"I've tasted crab all over the world, but when I come home I like nothing more than South Devon crab with a bowl of mayonnaise — I think it is one of the best.

"A lot of people talk about coming to Devon to try our beef, lamb and other meat — but what about seafood? Our crab is something we have that no one else has."

Tim, who recently taught children at Shaldon Primary School about the joys of local crab, said: "It's fantastic to be part of this campaign.

"Crab is a great natural local resource that can be enjoyed in so many ways by people of all ages."

Crab fishing has been a traditional for hundreds of years and has been passed down the generations.

Up to 2,000 tonnes of crab are landed in the Start Bay area each year, yet more than 60 per cent is exported to France and Spain.

South Devon crab is renowned as some of the sweetest available and the seabed around the South Devon coast is a top breeding ground, predominantly for brown crab but also spider crab and lobster.

Crabs are caught in 'pots' that are laid out in strings of anything from six to 100. The passive form of fishing causes no damage to the marine environment.

Crabs are bought to the surface alive. Strict requirements are placed on fishermen which state that any crabs that are undersize, damaged, or showing eggs, have to be returned to the sea, helping to keep stock levels sustainable.

The Marine Conservation Society considers the South Devon crab caught within inshore potting agreements to be the most sustainable source of brown crab.

The Blue Sea Food Company, based in Paignton, which specialises in the supply of South Devon crab meat to the fresh and frozen wholesale market, is backing the campaign.

Director Dawn Spencer said: "Devon crab has a very distinct sweet flavour. I've eaten crab from Wales and Scotland, and each has its own flavour.

"The crab we catch here in South Devon is by far my favourite."

Visit South Devon marketing manager Sarah Streeter said: "We have had so much support from local businesses who want to get involved in promoting the area and our wonderful crab.

"This will have wide appeal, from dedicated foodies to families, and the campaign will help raise the profile of the area nationally."

Visit the campaign website www.visitsouthdevon.co.uk/crab