Mud crab hatchery and grow-out status in the Philippines

Abstract

Interest in mud crab aquaculture is increasing throughout the Philippines because of its demand both in local and export markets. Mud crab culture started as low-density polyculture with fish or shrimp using wild crab juveniles and developed to monoculture in ponds and cages. Recently, an integrated mangrove-crab culture system has been practiced. Mud crab species commonly cultured are Scylla serrata, S. tranquebarica, and S. olivacea.

The yearly increase in production from 1996 to 2000 (Table 1) may indicate a corresponding increase in the seed collection activity due to greater demand of seeds for stocking. According to many gatherers in the country, there has been a declining volume of all size-classes, from juveniles to adult crabs, gathered from the wild over the last decade. Hence, the development of a commercially viable hatchery technology can play an important role in promoting sustainable crab aquaculture and fisheries management.