Culture and marketing of mud-crab in SriLanka

Credit: Ajith Kumara (SriLanka)

The photo shows two gravid females of mud crab (giant mud crab), Scylla serrata. The egg color indicates its ripening stage.

The fattening of mud crab in SriLanka is the usual farming system practiced in earthen ponds. The culture begins with collecting soft shell crabs which are kept in ponds and fed trash fish until the shell hardens and then harvesting is performed. Live mud crab is totally exported to Singapore, Hong Kong while damaged ones are locally consumed. Mud crab enjoy high market value 1 kg = ~ 10-12US$. Harvesting of mud crab in the wild is done by either gill nets, traps or hand picking.

The breeding of mud crab in captivity was achieved in SriLanka in 2011. However, there are still some problems related to their low survival rate whether for mud crab or for orange mud crab (Scylla olivacea).

 Culture and marketing of mud crab in SriLanka

 

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