In an attempt to boost the population of blue swimming crabs in Southeast Asia, the Seafood Industry Research Fund has sponsored a study researching the best practices to enhance the species’ stock.
The study was undertaken by the National Fisheries Institute’s Crab Council, a group founded in 2009 that focuses on crab sustainability, and funded by SIRF, which provides research grants to colleges, universities, and other seafood industry research groups. Its funding comes entirely from contributions from individuals and companies in the seafood industry.
The study was titled, “Stock Enhancement: Strategic Approach for the Blue Swimming Crab in Southeast Asia,” and was authored by Anson H. Hines and Yonathan Zohar. The study pinpoints enhancement as an essential component of improving a fishery – in this case, enhancement is the practice of using hatchery-born crabs to supplement the species’ population in the wild.
“Many tools are required to set a fishery on a path for sustainability,” NFI Crab Council Chairman Brendan Sweeny said. “While we recognize that strong fisheries management policies are the foundation of a sustainable fishery, this SIRF-sponsored study has helped clarify the council’s position on one of those tools. We look forward to incorporating the kind of science based enhancement approach suggested by the study into our work for the blue swimming crab resource.”
Hines and Zohar presented their findings to a council meeting during last month’s Seafood Expo North America.
“SIRF, like the NFI Crab Council, is interested in investing in a better seafood industry,” SIRF Chairman Russ Mentor said. “SIRF supports the council’s enhancement research because of its dual benefits to the blue swimming crab fishery’s long-term health and value.”
