Dhaka: For the first time, crab seed up to the crablets size has been successfully produced in Bangladesh which will help increase the country’s aquaculture productivity.

A joint initiative has been successful in Bangladesh in the production of crab seed up to the crablets size, WorldFish researchers said adding that the mud crab breeding trial has been conducted in collaboration between the USAID-AIN project and the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) in Cox’s Bazar.

The USAID-Aquaculture for Income and Nutrition (AIN) project has been implemented by WorldFish initiated hatchery production technology of mud crab in Bangladesh from November 2014.  

The project is helping to increase aquaculture productivity in Bangladesh by developing technologies and improving resource management and very recently has started working to increase sustainability of mud crab farming.  

Chief of Party of AIN project Erik H J Keus said availability of crab seed from a hatchery will reduce pressure on the natural crab of the Sundarbans and will increase availability of crab seed, leading to higher production without interruption.

With the aim of introducing the hatchery production technology of mud crab in Bangladesh, a mud crab breeding trial was jointly conducted by BFRI and USAID-AIN.  

Chief Scientific Officer of BFRI Enamul Haque said although Marine Fisheries & Technology Station (MFTS), BFRI and WorldFish joint effort has succeeded on the production of crablets for the first time in Bangladesh, the government has already taken initiatives for the development of crab fishery through approval of a Development Project Proposal (DPP) which will lead to commercial production of crab in the coastal areas of Bangladesh.  

He said the project will be implemented by the Department of Fisheries (DoF) and BFRI in greater Khulna and Cox’s Bazar region.

The current crab sector is dependent upon wild-caught crablets from the Sundarbans which is unsustainable.  

In this context, WorldFish consultant Aung Sein said Bangladesh is well suited for crab production, so a profitable crab hatchery sector is important for the future of crab culture in this country.  

“As this is the first attempt, more breeding and larval rearing of mud crab need to be carried out to find out the ideal larval rearing parameters for mud crab seed production with crab hatchery technology,” he added.