The mud crab fishery of the Sundarbans mangrove of Satkhira district (south-western Bangladesh); biological traits to manage the resource

Paper Details

Research Paper 01/05/2019
Views (298) Download (13)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

The mud crab fishery of the Sundarbans mangrove of Satkhira district (south-western Bangladesh); biological traits to manage the resource

Abstract

Mud crab is one of the important commodities in the coastal region of Bangladesh but less understood about their abundance and biological traits. The present study described the relative abundance and the biological traits like size distribution, ovarian maturity size, breeding periodicity, etc. of mud crab (Scylla olivacea) to propose a suitable management guideline. Samples were taken between October 2017 and October 2018 from different stations of Satkhira district. The average mud crab density was estimated 481.57 ± 221.34 crabs/ha which represent the average biomass as 28.85 ± 12.88 kg/ha. The crab density was higher in the deeper mangroves than the nearby mangroves and rivers. A total of 874 individuals were assessed and sample individuals showed mostly under the size-class of 70-79 mm internal carapace width (ICW). The female crabs were dominated (57%) throughout the study period and the sex ratio was 1: 1.33. The 47% individuals were mature (U-shape) according to their abdominal flap shape and this finding also reaffirmed by the internal observation of ovaries. The 50% females attain ovarian maturation at the size of 84.98 mm ICW. The species breed round the year but according to their gonadal development frequencies (%) and gonad somatic index (GSI), it was noticed that they might have two peak breeding seasons i.e. winter (November to February) and rainy season (June to July). Thus, it may be suggested that the female mud crab should not be harvested<85mm ICW and the season restriction time might be revised for the coastal areas of Bangladesh.

VIEWS 14

Ali MY, Kamal D, Hossain SMM, Azam MA, Sabbir W, Mushida A, Ahmed B, Azam K. 2004. Biological studies of the mud crab, Scylla serrata (Forskål) of the Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem in Khulna region of Bangladesh. Pakistan Journal of Biological Science 7(11), 1981-87.

Azam K, Kamal D, Mustafa M. 1998. Status and potential of mud crab (Scylla serrata) in Bangladesh. In: Rahman, M.A.,Shah, MS, Murtaza, M.G, and Matin, M.A. (eds.). Proc. Nat. Sem. Integr. Manage. Ganges Floodplains and Sundarbans Ecosystem, July 16-18, 1994. Organized jointly by Khulna University, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council and Department of Agricultural Extension. Khulna University, Bangladesh, p  150-160.

BEPB. 2004. Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Chakraborty BK, Azad SA, Sarker S. 2018. Present Status of Mud Crab Population in Bangladesh International Journal of Oceanography & Aquaculture 2(2), 1-11.

Curtis SJ. 1933. Working plan for the forest of the Sundarbans Division. 1(2), Forest department, West Bengal, Calcutta.

DoF (Department of Fisheries). 2015. National Fish Week, 2015. Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Dhaka, Bangladesh. 131.

Dumas P, Leopold M, Frotte L, Peignon C. 2012. Mud crab ecology encourages site-specific approaches to fishery management. Journal of Sea Research 67, 1-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j-seares.2011.08.003.

Ikhwanuddin Mhd, Azmie G, Juariah HM, Zakaria MZ, Ambak M. 2011. Biological information and population features of mud crab, genus Scylla from mangrove areas of Sarawak, Malaysia. Fisheries Research 108, 817-820. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2011.01.001.

Islam MS, Kodama K, Kurokura H. 2010. Ovarian development and size at maturity of the mud crab Scylla olivacea in Pak Phanang mangrove swamps, Thailand, Marine Biology Research 6(5), 503-510. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17451000903335113.

Islam MS. 2012. Biology and Management of Mud crab fishery in mangrove swamps, Thailand” Lambert Academic Publication, Germany, 2012, p 85.

Islam MS. 2018. Mass Engagement of the Local Communities in Mud Crab Culture in the Sundarban Area, Bangladesh: A Potential Livelihood under Threats of Climate Change. Progress in Aqua Farming and Marine Biology 1(1), 180007.

Kannathasan A, Rajendran K. 2011. Sex ratio of the portunidae crab Charybdis natator (Herbst, 1974) from Nagapattinam, south east coast of Bay of Bengal, India. Elixir Bio. Tech. 40, 5388-5390.

Khan MG, Alam MF. 1992. The mud crab (Scylla serrata) fishery and its bio-economics in Bangladesh. BOBP/REP 51, 29-40.

Lebata MJHL, Vay LLE, Primavera JH, Walton ME, Binas JB. 2007. Baseline assessment of fisheries for three species of mud crab (Scylla spp.) in the mangroves of Inajay, Aklan, Phillippines. 80(3), 891-904.

Molla MAG, Islam MR, Islam S, Salam MA. 2009. Socio-economic status of crab collectors and fatteners in the south west region of Bangladesh. Journal of Bangladesh Agricultural University 7(2), 411-419.

Nand Y, Fox M, Mangubhai S. 2016. A preliminary assessment of mud crab stocks in mangrove forest in Bua province, Fiji. Wildlife Conservation Society, Suva, Fiji. p 9.

Naskar KR, Chakraborty NM. 1984. Studies on the Economic Fauna from the Sundarbans Delta in West Bengal.  Indian Society of Coastal Agricultural Research 2(1), 56-62.

Robertson WD, Kruger A. 1994. Size maturity, mating and spawning in the Portunid crab Scylla serrata (Forska°l) in Natal, South Africa. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Sciences 39, 185-200.

Rosenberry B. 2015. Shrimp News International. Electronic portal (www.Shrimpnews.com). Published on October 12, 2015.

Zafar M, Siddiqui MZH. 2006. Occurrence and abundance of four Branchyuran crabs in the Chakaria Sundarbans of Bangladesh. The Chittagong University Journal of Science 24(2), 105-110.