Review on Global Crab Production and Its Potential to Aquaculture in Africa

Abstract

More than 5000 species exist but about 4500 species are true crabs while the others are called hermit crabs that use other animal shells for protection. The culture involves acquiring crablets from the hatchery and rearing in grow-out ponds until it gets to table size. This is mostly done in southeast Asia countries because of the inability to meet the demand only from the wild. Fattening of captured wild juvenile crabs is also a good culture method, mostly done because of low hatchery success in crab culture. Overexploitation of natural crab stock without considering the age, size, and status (gravid) has led to declining wild populations. The interest of many hatchery scientists and private fish farmers in crabs and the provision of crablets has been influenced by growing market demands of crab meat all over the world. Crab culture technology lags behind because of species-dependent challenges in the rearing and reliable production of healthy seed stock. In this paper, the status of crab (Eriocheir Sinensis, Callinectes sapidus, Scylla serrata, Portunus trituberculatus and Portunus pelagicus) aquaculture globally is examined together with technological development and problems hindering the industry. The potential for development of the crab aquaculture industry in Africa is discussed