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[av_heading heading=’URBAN FARMER | Research program eyed to increase blue swimming crab production’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY JULIO P. YAP JR.
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Friday, March 17, 2017
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A NATIONAL research and development (R&D) program on Blue Swimming Crabs is paving the way to increase the production of this commercially important commodity in the country.
Funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (PCAARRD-DOST), the program aims to refine the existing technologies on hatchery and grow-out culture, and develop nursery culture of blue swimming crabs for sustainability and industry competitiveness.
Portunus pelagicus, the blue swimming crab, which is locally known as “alimasag,” “kasag,” “masag,” or “lambay,” is a commercially important commodity in the Philippines.
The blue swimming crabs are being commonly sold as traditional hard-shell or soft-shell crabs.
It is a highly-priced delicacy throughout the country.
It was learned that the Philippines ranked 3rd worldwide, and 2nd among the Southeast Asian countries in terms of production.
Based on a report made by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) in 2011, the country produced some 29,272 metric tons (mt) of blue swimming crab which was valued at around P1.85 billion.
It is also considered as a major export commodity of the country, and supplies 9.53 percent of the United States of America’s demand for crab meat.
In the past years, however, the production of the blue swimming crabs has been steadily declining, mainly due to overexploitation and habitat losses.
There is also the limited crab farming and culture activity due to the lack of appropriate culture technology and seed supply.
Hence, developing hatchery and grow-out culture technology of crabs will increase production since these species can grow fast and has a high fertility rate, making this species ideal for aquaculture.
This will also provide additional source of livelihood to the coastal communities.
To implement the program, the DOST-PCAARRD has partnered with the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) in collaboration with the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) in Iloilo, Tacloban College, and the Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU-TCTO).
With projects ongoing in Tigbauan of Iloilo, Aklan, Guian, and Lawaan in Eastern Samar, and in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, the national R&D program on Blue Swimming Crabs focuses on broodstock management, improved hatchery and grow-out culture operations, and development of a nursery technology.
Current initiatives of the program include the verification of science-based hatchery technology which will be disseminated to the state universities and colleges (SUCs), and industry stakeholders at the end of the duration.
This will include information, education, and communication materials to increase public awareness on the conservation and management of blue swimming crabs which will also be distributed among beneficiaries of the program including small-scale crab farmers, hatchery operators, and crabmeat processors, traders, and exporters./PN
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