European Ocean Biodiversity Information System

Two crab pens were constructed, the first in a chosen hypothetically optimum site inside the mangrove stand, enclosing mangroves without incurring any damage or destruction, and the second in contrasting conditions in a natural clearance, with no mangrove presence. Crab pen structures were based on traditional tidal fish traps of the area. Results after a 43 day fattening period showed harvested crabs solely from the mangrove integrated pen, of these crabs, all were female, no crabs were recovered from the second pen with no mangal presence. Pen structures proved successful for the mangrove pen, for female crabs, with 100% survival and harvest rates. Furthermore feeding crabs on trash and kitchen waste which was freely available proved viable, female crabs growing an average 2.13g/crab/day. In terms of cost benefit analysis, the mangrove integrated pen proved viable with no capital outlay or operational costs with the exception of labour or man hours, calculated profit levels for female crab fattening was 50%.