Crab raising in coastal areas turning lucrative

Our Correspondent KHULNA, Oct 9: Crab fattening and cultivation has become popular in the coastal area owing marginal investment and favourable atmosphere. Over 10 thousand people are earning their livelihood by crab fattening and cultivating crabs in Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Patuakhali, Barguna, Bhola and Jhalakathi districts. According to sources there are 15 species of crab are in Bangladesh. Of them 11 are of saline water and 4 of sweet water. Saline water crabs are exported to foreign countries commercially. For this reason thousands of people of the coastal area have been engaged in this sector. Earlier, crab had been consumed as fish among the minority group. But now it is very commercial commodity of our country. The president of Paikgacha Kakra Baboshahi Samiti Adhibash Sana said that about two thousand people are involved in this occupation only in Paikgachha area. At present male and female crabs grade F-1 are being sold at Tk. 530 to 550 per kg and immature crabs are being sold at Tk. 300 pre kg. Scientific officer of Bangladesh Fisheries Resource Institute Dr. Mamotaj said that crab fattening and cultivating is very easy and cheap.