Red crabs disappearing from Cox's Bazar beaches

COX'S BAZAR, May 31: The beaches of Cox's Bazar used to be a comfortable home of thousands of red ghost crabs.

The number of red crabs is, however, disappearing from the beaches of Cox's Bazar due to use of illegal current net for fishing, disturbances by tourists and sound pollution.

According to locals, red crabs can still be seen in some places of Teknaf, Inani and Himchhari beaches. But their number has dwindled significantly, they said.

Tourist Shamsul Haque Chowdhury said, "I have been visiting Cox's Bazar for more than 20 years. When I was a student, I saw swarms of red crabs on popular points of the beach."

"Now it is a matter of luck to see a group of crabs," he added.

When Bangladesh went into a lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus and tourist spots, including Cox's Bazar beaches, were also closed down. With less human activity, nature found ways to flourish. And so did the red crabs, said a beach cleaner.

However, since the travel ban got lifted for the tourists, red crabs had become a rare scene in most places of Cox's Bazar, he added.

"Some fishermen are also using current nets for fishing. Sometimes, they leave these nets abandoned on the beach, acting as death trap for the crabs," said another beach worker.

"The reckless movement of horses and beach bikes are another reason for the red crabs to lose their habitats on the beach," he added.

Fazlul Quader Chowdhury, President of Bangladesh Environment Movement, Cox's Bazar, said that there should be a strict law to protect the red crabs on the beach.

"The movement of all kinds of vehicles including beach bikes should be stopped for good. The use of current nets should also be banned," he added.

"The administration concerned must take steps to protect the most interesting animal on the beach and ensure that they move around freely like before," he also said.

Shafiqur Rahman, Chief Scientific Officer of Fisheries Research Institute, Cox's Bazar, said, "Red crabs have become almost extinct on the beaches of Cox's Bazar."

"These animals move in groups on the beach. They die if they get stuck in an abandoned net. We've cautioned fishermen time and again not to use such nets, but to no avail", he added.

Red crab is in the 'least concern category' on the red list for Bangladesh of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). But it recommends that the animal's habitat be protected.

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