The increase in illegal shipments of crablets from Northern Samar is beginning to affect domestic mud crab production, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Director Juan Albaladejo stated recently.

Not a major producer of marketable crabs, the island province of Northern Samar is instead one of the country's leading producer regions of megalopa, the post-larval form of crab and first stage of the crab lifecycle, that is traded outside Samar.

"Traders buy at PHP 5 (USD 0.10) each and then [illegally] sell in other areas of Visayas and Luzon at PHP 14 (USD 0.29) per crablet. The dealers earn more from our local produce," Albaladejo said, BusinessWorld reports.

Between 150,000 and 250,000 pieces of megalopa were illegally shipped out of the island every week in 2007 alone, said Northern Samar provincial fisheries director Pepe Lutao.

The provincial fishery ordinance of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar dictates that only matchbox-size crablets may leave the province.

"There are already local ordinances prohibiting the transport of megalopa outside of Samar Island but [they are] not strictly implemented. We have started meeting with local government officials to act on this," Albaladejo stated.

In the meantime, BFAR is looking to expand mud crab production in Northern Samar to 2,000 hectares.

The province provides optimal conditions for mud crab fattening due to its ample areas of coastal mangroves - the crab's natural habitat.

Last year, crab producers in some 20 coastal towns in Northern Samar harvested 13,000 metric tonnes of mud crab as part of an ongoing project, Albaladejo said.

In early 2007, the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) Aquaculture Department and the Australian Center for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR) jointly implemented the Community Agricultural Technologies Project's "Enhancing adoption of mud crab production technologies in Northern Samar."

Ending in November after 30 continous months, the project entails establishing demonstration sites in the Northern Samar towns of Laoang, Lavezares, Rosario and Pambujan.

Additionally, the PHP 3.3-million (USD 68,300) project undertakes on-farm demonstration and assessment of nursery techniques, grow-out management, fattening and nutrition, mud crab stock assessment and mud crab market survey.

Albaladejo described the project as one that will help the industry implement sustainable improved technologies, secure seed stocks for production communities, and improve management ordinances on wild crablet harvesting.

"With this project, the total harvests and production of mud crabs will be improved by 15 to 30 per cent compared with standard practices," the BFAR official said. "The income of farmer beneficiaries will then increase between 10 per cent to 20 per cent."

The fisheries agency is also requesting that farmers secure a large volume of fish waste to feed the mud crabs.

Leftover fish from a sardine manufacturer in Northern Samar can also be used to support the growing provincial mud crab industry.

"Our task is to establish a storage facility to keep trash fish even after harvest seasons for future consumption," Albaladejo said.

Related article:

- Capiz, SEAFDEC partner up to develop fisheries

By Denise Recalde
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com