Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Investigations on the non-conventional crab fishery resource, Charybdis lucifera (Fabricius, 1798) from Karnataka coast (India) and the need to commercialize the resource

Volume 63 Issue 1

K. Yogesh Kumar, A. P. Dineshbabu and Sujitha Thomas

doi:10.6024/jmbai.2021.63.1.2242-02

Abstract

Charybdis lucifera, a seafood delicacy in many parts of the world, are discarded from commercial fishery operations of Karnataka coast (India), since it is not used for consumption in the region. Globally, in light of reports on overfishing and reduction in fishery, reducing the fishing pressure on many conventional species are becoming a priority. To meet the probable reduction in availability of seafood, due to the regulations on the fishery of conventional species, there is need to bring in more non-conventional species to commercial status. Information on nutritional quality of the non-conventional resources is the essential pre-requisite for effective use of these resources. This study, therefore, was focused to promote a non-conventional crab resource to commercial scale by unveiling information on their abundance, nutritional quality and economic importance. Our study revealed that C. lucifera is a regular component of trawl bycatch of Karnataka coast and annual average landing during 2015-2016 was estimated at 45 t. The species was found to have high meat content (27.2 ±5.9%) which is comparable or even better than most of the conventional edible crabs. Crude protein in male and female were 80.1 and 79.0% respectively, with high nutritive essential amino acid profile. Moreover, the species was found to possess rich PUFA, Eicosapentaenoic acid (13.5%) and Docosahexaenoic acid (16.8%) content, which qualifies it as a high quality seafood. At present these crabs are being disposed as “low value bycatch” for fertilizer and poultry feed after drying, with other trash fishes realizing an average price of Rs.5/kg which can be increased at least ten times, once it is popularized as a food crab. Moreover, its commercial use could eventually lead to increase in the landings of the species by discards. Even with the present annual catch data and with the projected value escalation, the revenue could be increased up to Rs.2.3 million (approx.30,000 $) every year, which definitely will help in improving the livelihood status of fishermen involved in coastal fishery. Its potential as a source of bio-active components like chitin, chitosan and astaxanthin was also projected in the study to supplement its economic signifi Non-conventional resources, trawl discard, Chraybdis lucifera, nutritional quality, southwest coast of India, livelihood improvemencance

Keywords

Non-conventional resources, trawl discard, Chraybdis lucifera, nutritional quality, southwest coast of India, livelihood improvemen

Date : 15-05-2021