Coastal Aquaculture and Mariculture

Unit 6- Crustaceans

6.3.2. Production trend
The fishery showed an overall improvement (40%) from nearly 20,000 t in 1975 to 28,000t in 1999. During 1994-2001 on an average, crabs formed about 8% of the total crustacean landings. The catches were comparatively good in the southern states, Tamil Nadu contributing to 28%, Kerala 12% and Andhra Pradesh 6% during 1996-2000. Nearly 33% of landing was from Tamil Nadu, 31 % from Gujarat, 17% from Kerala and 8% from Andhra Pradesh. During 1999, maximum landing was from the southeast region (54%) followed by the southwest (22%), northwest (18%) and northeast (5%) regions. However, during the year 2000, the northwest contributed the maximum (45%) followed by southeast region (34%) and southwest region (17%). Maximum landing of crabs was from Gujarat (43%) during the year 2000.
Recent production

(Source: CMFRI, Annual Reports)

Mode of exploitation
The gear used for crab fishing varies much. The seine nets, dip nets, cast nets, lines, hooked iron rods, crab net, gill net and traps are used for crab fishing. However, crabs are landed mainly as a by-catch of trawlers, mostly caught from a depth of about 10-60 m. In Tamil Nadu, which accounts for 28% of the total crab landing, the mechanised trawlers lands about 60%, non-mechanised bottom-set gill nets 20% and the out-board engine bottom-set gill nets about 10% of the catches.