Assessment of edible crab harvesting and consumption in Southern Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

Assessment of the harvesting and utilization of edible crabs was carried out to identify species harvested and their seasonality, harvesting equipment, constraints of harvesting and consumption as well as distribution outlets in Southern Cross River State, Nigeria. A purposive sampling technique was used to select six fishing ports in two Local Government Areas; three in Akpabuyo and three in Bakassi using questionnaire (n=90). Data generated were analyzed descriptively using frequency of counts, percentages, means, bar diagrams and Likert Scale. Crab harvesters were solely males (100.00%) and mostly in the range 0f 31-40 years (43.33%). The activity is associated with high level of illiteracy (50.00%). Most harvesters (42.20%) had 11-20 years of experience in the activity. Response on crab abundance in the study shows that Cancer pagurus (46.67%) > Scylla serrata (31.11%) > Callinectes amnicolla (13.33%) > Patamon fluviatile (8.89%). Though, the dry season is the preferred period of harvesting, there is no significant difference between the dry and wet seasons in relation to crab harvesting. Harvesting equipment were nets (47.00%) < basket (39.00%) < bamboo cage (9.00%) < crab pots (5.00%). Consumption outlets were Cross River State (45.00%), other states (31.00%), neighbouring countries (24.00%). Lack of modern storage facilities (3.7), illiteracy (3.6), seasonality (3.3) and modern harvesting equipment (3.1) were among the challenges of sustainable crab harvesting in the area of study.

Keywords: Edible crab, harvesting, consumption, constraints, equipment