Fisheries to promote crab farming to meet demand

NT NETWORK
PANAJI
Observing the increasing demand for crabs in the state from locals as well as tourists, the government has notified a scheme called ‘Financial assistance for setting up of crab farming unit in Goa’ to make available crabs as per the demand.
“Goa has vast potential for fisheries and a huge variety of fish and other seafood products are available in the coastal waters of Goa,” states the notification issued by director of fisheries Dr Shamila Monteiro, adding that the Goan cuisine is popular for its rich variety of seafood delicacies, which includes lobsters, crabs, prawns and various kinds of fish.
“Crab is one of the most favourite seafood dishes in Goa and considering the high scope and demand for the locally found crab, the government has taken an initiative to induce the entrepreneurs to cultivate the local crab namely Scylla Serrata, commonly known as mud crab and found in the marshy lands of Goa, by providing them financial assistance by way of subsidy.
The notification also states that mud crabs grow to a very large size of about 22 cm in carapace and about 2 kg in weight. “Crab seeds are available in the nature of all sizes and there should be availability of abundant and good quality water,” it maintains, adding that mud crabs are found to be adaptable to medium to high salinity conditions.
The scheme is targeted towards creating awareness about the scope of crab culture farming in Goa, conducting eco-friendly farming of mangrove crabs, providing training on mangrove crab farming, generating employment in rural and urban households through crab culture technique, providing technical support required for the production of crab culture, and providing financial assistance for setting up of a crab culture unit.
To promote the crab culture technique in Goa, the department of fisheries has also come up with an initiative to encourage crab farming in mangroves thereby providing financial assistance by way of subsidy to the farmers. It will include financial assistance for setting up of the crab culture unit as well as for purchase of seeds and feed.
The fish farmers, individuals, registered self-help groups and societies interested in setting up the crab farming units in Goa can avail the benefit under the particular scheme. The fish farmers and individuals should be residents of Goa for fifteen years in order to avail the scheme.
The applicants are also needed to undergo training programme on crab farming organised by the department of fisheries department, Marine Products Export Development Authority, Indian Council of Agricultural Research and other institutes.
The maximum amount of financial assistance eligible for setting up of crab culture unit is 25 per cent of the actual cost limited to Rs 1,50,000, per hectare. The farmer will be eligible for financial assistance up to 2 hectares. The maximum amount of financial assistance eligible for purchase of seeds and feed is 50 per cent of the actual cost limited to Rs 75,000 per hectare. The financial assistance will be limited to 2 hectare area.
On approval of the project proposal by the department of fisheries, 60 per cent of the actual financial assistance on setting up of crab culture unit will be provided to the beneficiary, while balance of 40 per cent would be given upon registration of the unit.
The beneficiary of the scheme is required to permit the government official or their duly authorised representative to inspect the unit as and when required, as also renewal of the registration of the unit needs to be done every three years. It is also proposed that there should not be any activity under the scheme, which may cause environmental hazard in regards to the mangroves due to the crab culture unit.