The National Fisheries Institute’s (NFI) Crab Council has joined the Thai Frozen Food Association’s Thai Crab Product Group, the Kung Krabaen Bay Royal Development Study Centre and Rambhai Barni Rajabhat University (RBRU) to carry out scientific research on sustainability efforts.
The NFI Crab Council will carry out research on the effectiveness of crab-bank cages which are run by the Royal Department Study Centre. The aim of the research is to promote the effective management of coastal fisheries, provide effective environmental programmes and increase incomes in surrounding villages.
Ed Rhodes, Council Chair of Phillips Food, said: “This is an important step in understanding the science that may contribute to the sustainability of the Blue Swimming Crab fishery. The Council has started to fund population enhancement efforts that include hatcheries and cages to protect egg bearing female crabs but if you don’t conduct the science to find out if they work, you’re missing a piece of the puzzle.”
Jeremy Crawford, Asia liaison, NFI Crab Council, added: “This research, in conjunction with work to develop broader fisheries improvement efforts along with regulations and policies that support those efforts, will serve as a good foundation for crab sustainability work in Thailand.”
