The Philippines is one of the biggest producers of mangrove crab (Scylla serrata) in the Indo-pacific region. At present, mangrove crab is a lucrative commodity for local farmers as crabs are considered an export commodity and a foreign exchange earner. For the past five years, the annual average production of mangrove crabs has been 19, 452 metric tons (PSA, 2021) with an annual increase in produ
ction at 5.53% (PSA, 2021). In 2019, mangrove crab production was 20,777.55 metric tons (PSA, 2021) valued at PHP 9.2 billion (PSA, 2021). Of the total production in 2019, 7,474 metric tons, valued at Php1.72 billion were exported as live, frozen, fresh, or chilled (BFAR, 2019). The Western Visayas (Region VI) is the fourth mangrove crab producer in the Philippines with 2,058.95 metric tons produced in 2019. Capiz is the top-producing province in Western Visayas with 2,007.20 metric tons of mangrove crabs produced in 2019 (PSA, 2021). The province is well-suited for aquaculture with 25,593.55 hectares of brackishwater fishponds of which 7,352.31 hectares are utilized for mangrove crab culture (OPA, 2021). Mangrove crab is the third most popular commodity being cultured in the province next to milkfish and prawn (OPA, 2021). Although mangrove crab is one of the major aquaculture industries, the annual grow-out production is on a downward trend. Annual production of the mangrove in Capiz has decreased from 2,196.43 MT in 2018 to 1970.31 MT in 2020 (PSA, 2021). This is mostly associated with a lack of supply of crablets of the Scylla serrata, the preferred species for culture. Mangrove crab seed stocks are mostly sourced from Samar, Sorsogon, Surigao, and Camarines Norte and are usually harvested from the wild. However, such practice is of great concern for local growers as the crablets or seed stocks are expensive, overexploited, and have less survival during transport. Based on the total area utilized for mangrove crab culture, about 11 million crablets are needed annually to optimize production. However, the average annual stocking density is only 7.01 million crablets. With a variance of more or less 4.0 million crablets to optimize production, there is a need to establish a mangrove crab hatchery in the province that will contribute to supplying crablets for the industry. Mangrove crab hatchery seed production technology and nursery management have long been developed in the Philippines (Quinitio et al., 2011) through the support of the DOST-PCAARRD. Currently, improved technologies for crab broodstock development, seed production, diets for nurseries, grow-out culture, and management are available. As an offshoot of this recent development, a nationwide promotion of the technology was initiated to achieve sufficient seed stock supply for farming and lessen the dependence on wild stock and capacitate identified stakeholders. This proposed hatchery is expected to supply 4.35-6.53% of the total demand for crablets in the province which will eventually contribute an estimated 4%-6% volume in mangrove crab production of about 102 MT valued at P51 million.
