Illegal shipments of young mud crabs a cause for concern at BFAR

published March 05, 2009 in Leyte Samar Daily Express and BusinessWorld

TACLOBAN CITY — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has expressed concern over the rampant transport of crablets from Northern Samar.

BFAR regional director Juan Albaladejo said this illegal practice has affected the local mud crab production. Although Northern Samar is one of the biggest producers of crablets, it remains a minor producer of marketable crabs.

Shipments of megalopa, the post-larval form that leads to the first crab stage, are being traded outside Samar.

"Traders buy at P5 each and then sell in other areas of Visayas and Luzon at P14 per crablet. The dealers earn more from our local produce," Mr. Albaladejo said.

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

Under the provincial fishery ordinance of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar, only matchbox-size crablets are allowed for transport outside 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," Mr. Albaladejo told BusinessWorld.

The Fisheries bureau is looking at expanding mud crab production in Northern Samar to 2,000 hectares
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Mr. Albaladejo said the province is ideal for mud crab fattening because of the abundant coastal mangroves, which provide a natural habitat for the crabs.

Last year, the 20 coastal towns in Northern Samar produced 13,000 metric tons of mud crabs.

In the early part of 2007, the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center-Aquaculture Department together with the Australian Center for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR) joined forces to implement the Community Agricultural Technologies Project’s "Enhancing adoption of mud crab production technologies in Northern Samar."

The 30-month project, which will end in November 2009, has established demonstration sites in the towns of Laoang, Lavezares, Rosario and Pambujan.

The initiative, which has a P3.3-million budget, undertakes on-farm demonstration and assessment of nursery techniques, grow-out management, fattening and nutrition, mud crab stock assessment and mud crab market survey.

Mr. Albaladejo said the project will pave the way for the adoption of sustainable improved technologies.

It will also see that there are sufficient available seed stocks for beneficiary communities, and improved ordinances to manage the collection of wild crablets.

"With this project, the total harvests and production of mud crabs will be improved by 15-30% compared with standard practices.

"The income of farmer beneficiaries will then increase between 10-20%," he added.
To support the activity, the BFAR has asked farmers to come up with a large volume of trash fish required to feed the mud crabs.

Leftover fish from a sardine manufacturer in Northern Samar can also be used which will prevent spoilage at the facility.

"Our task is to establish a storage facility to keep trash fish even after harvest seasons for future consumption," Mr. Albadejo said. (Sarwell Q. Meniano)