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Mud crabs source of income for Setiu community

Mud crabs source of income for Setiu community

Wednesday, 05/10/2022

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Crab lovers in the country are spoiled with so many choices of crabs to feast on. Each crab species has a different taste, form, and size. Some seafood lovers crave for big-sized crabs, others tastier and juicier ones.

Most crab lovers opt for flower crabs when cooking all kinds of recipes. Their meat is said to be sweet, and the meat texture is solid and thick. Their blue carapace, or shell, turns red when they are fully cooked.

Another species of crabs are said to have a healing property that can cure illnesses. They are the mangrove crabs, or mud crabs. They are highly sought by some people, who are willing to drive far to obtain the species for dengue treatment. Their effectiveness is yet to be validated.

The high demand for these crabs has begun to affect their population.

Researchers from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) have for a long time been conducting studies on mud crab habitat and seeding. It is not only the mud crab studies that are carried out at the Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), but there are studies on culturing, breeding, seeding of prawns, other crab species, fish, horseshoe crabs, seahorses, and other animals.

Various initiatives have been taken with regards to mud crab seeding to increase the species’ population in Setiu, Terengganu, said Professor Dr. Mhd Ikhwanuddin Abdullah.

“A special programme has been running since 2014 at the Setiu Wetlands in an effort to identify the best solution,” he said.

“Among the programme’s objectives are to produce formula food for the larvae and breeding mud crabs, and increase the maturity of the reproductive glands (gonad) of breeding mud crabs and the quality as well as the survival rate of the crab seeds.

“We also study the effectiveness of crab cage system in increasing the population of mud crabs in their natural habitat and the effectiveness of in-cage crab farming activities.

“The findings revealed that the crab population in the area increased after the programme was held. The programme involved the local community who worked together with UMT. The breeding mud crabs were supplied by UMT.”

He said AKUATROP has successfully improved the technology for mud crab seed production at the hatchery and established a natural crab hatching centre at the wetlands.

The programme was responsible for the increase in mud crab population, which has contributed to the improved economy of the local community. The programme represents the relationship between a university and the local community. It translates the concept of “University for society.”

 

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Universiti Malaysia Terengganu