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Outreach and Engagement

RUTS Crab Bank: Coastal Communities Collaboration Project to Maintain Fishery Resource

October 8, 2022

Indicator 14.5.4

The blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus) is an economically important species in the tropics. In Thailand, blue swimming crabs are distributed in all coastal areas. Blue swimming crabs are popular for consumption and are in high demand in the market. The blue swimming crab can generate income for the country worth billions of baht per year.

As part of a national initiative to enhance the blue swimming crab population, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya (RUTS) established the "RUTS Crab Bank Project" in response to the decline in blue swimming crab catches. The project's goal is to conserve and sustain blue swimming crab resources while also raising local fishermen's awareness of the importance of participation in fisheries management. The key element of the project is the fishermen, who play vital roles as volunteers to maintain their fishery resources. The project activities involved the gravid female crabs that are captured by fishermen and reared in blue buckets until they spawn. Subsequently, to encourage crab recruitment, crab larvae are released into the coastal area, and the female crabs can then be sold.

The “RUTS Crab Bank Project” was implemented along the coastlines of three islands and two administrative districts, Li Bong Island and Sukorn Island in Trang Province and Pu–Jum Island in Krabi Province, as well as along the coastlines of Hat Sumran District, Trang Province, and Muang District, Krabi Province.

Regarding the “RUTS Crab Bank” operation during April 2021 and April 2022, 208,380 egg-containing female crabs were collected, at an average of 239 individuals per bank per month, of which 104,190,000,000 crab larvae in the zoea stage were predicted to be survived by the management of RUTS crab banks.

According to the impact assessment on “RUTS Crab Bank” management for coastal communities, the local fishermen were expected to make between 91,014 - 120,684 baht per month (2,438.7-3,233.7 US dollars) during the peak of blue crab fishing.

Related Links:

https://www.facebook.com/crabbank.ruts

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1085247499028555&set=pcb.1085248145695157

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=942772553385829&set=pcb.942772723385812

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=946813232981761&set=pcb.946813309648420