A hairy crab farm has been certified by an international sustainability programme the world’s first crab farm to earn the distinction.

China’s Zhejiang Aoling Aquatic Seeding Technology Co Ltd farm has been added to the Global Aquaculture Alliance’s (GAA) Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) third-party certification sustainability programme.

“We are excited about bringing hairy crab into our BAP programme,” said Steve Hart, GAA Vice President.

“What makes this even more exciting is that this is the first BAP-certified species that will be marketed live, directly to Chinese consumers. They will receive a box of live crab with the BAP logo on the packaging, giving us the opportunity to begin promoting responsible aquaculture directly to consumers.”

This news comes just days before the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo in Qingdao, where GAA is exhibiting this year. In a brief ceremony, Mr Zheng Haidi, general manager of Zhejiang Aoling Aquatic Seeding Technology, will accept the BAP certificate from GAA at the expo.

The farm is located in Huzhou city, Zhejiang province. Crab produced by the farm is sold live, mainly through the Internet domestically in China.

Hairy crab (Eriocheir sinensis) is a medium-sized burrowing crab native to the rivers and estuaries of eastern Asia. It is named for its furry claws which resemble mittens. It's also known as the Chinese mitten crab.

The crab is a delicacy in eastern Chinese cuisine, particularly in Shanghai and Jiangsu province.