State poised to be nation’s first exporter of mud crabs

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Uggah (second right) speaking to mud crab breeding expert Dr Colin Shelley at a mud crab farm located in Kampung Loba Stoh in Sampadi, Lundu. The farm is part of a pioneering mud crab breeding project owned by an organisation known as Neocrab. Before visiting the farm, Uggah also visited Neocrab’s hatchery in Sematan.

LUNDU: Sarawak is in pole position to be the nation’s first mud crab exporter after Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah declared open a mud crab hatchery here yesterday.

He is optimistic of success in the latest effort by local Sarawakian organisation Neocrab as its farming and hatching methods are backed by science, and assisted by international experts in the field.

“In the past, there were efforts to produce mud crabs in the state but they were unsuccessful. I am confident Neocrab will succeed in breeding and farming mud crabs which can be exported overseas,” he said at Neocrab’s opening ceremony held at its hatchery.

Neocrab’s opening is important due to a decline in size and availability of mud crabs in the state.

Uggah hopes Neocrab will help farmers in the state, especially smallholders, farm crabs.

He believed that with the facilities and knowledge, Sarawak has tremendous potential to be tops in mud crab cultivation for Malaysia to join the ranks of Vietnam and Philippines.

Ginger and Coconut Sdn Bhd director Umang Nangku Jabu commented that aware of the decline in size and availability of mud crabs in the state, the company saw the opportunity to rectify the situation through mud crab farming.

“We contacted a team of international specialists in the field to undertake a feasibility study on crabs in the state. It indicated excellent opportunities for Sarawak in terms of environment, availability of farm sites, opportunity for contract farmers and location within easy reach of major mud crab markets in Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and China,” said Umang.

She said when her company asked for financial support from the Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC), they found that they were the first in the country to do such a venture.

Neocrab is a registered trademark of Ginger and Coconut Sdn Bhd and is led by its chief executive officer Dr Colin Shelley.

Known for his FAO crab farming manual, Dr Colin had led many mud crab farming outfits in Australia, Fiji and Micronesia, and provided consultancy services to many countries.

“Sarawak is blessed to have all four species of mud crabs. Currently we are using only broodstock available in the state, sourcing it from Sematan, Sampadi, Bako, Asajaya, Sadong Jaya, Sarikei, Tanjung Manis and a few other places in the state,” he said.

There are four species of mud crabs in the country namely Scylla Tranquebarica, Scylla Olivacea, Scylla Paramamosain and Scylla Serrata.

Others present at the ceremony included Tanjong Datu assemblywoman Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu, former Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu and wife Tan Sri Dato Sri Empiang Jabu, and Uggah’s wife Datin Amar Doreen Mayang.