Domestication of the mud crab Scylla serrata

Abstract

The significant decrease in wild mud crab population highlights the need to manage the resources and domesticate crabs. This paper presents the initial results of the domestication of mud crab Scylla serrata aimed at producing good-quality captive broodstock. The analysis of the genetic structure of the base population was done as a prerequisite for domestication. Adult S. serrata from the northern to southern parts of the Philippines (Cagayan, Camarines, Samar, and Surigao) were obtained for genetic diversity analysis and domestication. Analysis of molecular variance showed that differences in the genetic variability between the four populations were not significant. Moreover, no significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium was observed in each sample population and even in pooled populations. Body weight was positively correlated with the carapace width. Second spawning occurred 41-46 days after the first spawning and 34 days from second to third spawning. However, there was a decrease in the number of zoea in repeat spawnings. Twenty-four first-generation (F 1 ) families were produced from the four sites. The duration from spawning of the base population (P 0 ) to attainment of broodstock size F 1 was 10-14 months. Four second-generation (F 2 ) families were produced after 11-12 months. Up to the F 2 , crabs tested negative for six viruses: white spot syndrome virus, infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus, gill-associated virus, yellow head virus, Taura syndrome virus, and infectious myonecrosis virus. The reproductive performance of P 0 was comparable to the succeeding generations. Several families were obtained from one population in a year. However, due to the cannibalistic behavior of crabs, more space is required for the nursery and grow-out phase. The domestication of S. serrata is the first study done on any mud crab species in the Indo-west Pacific region. The initial results would serve as guide to understand and eliminate the barriers to mud crab domestication. The breeding technology developed from this study will support the production of good-quality seedstock for farming.

Growth, survival and intactness of green mud crab (Scylla Paramamosain) broodstock under different captive grow out protocols

“…A suitable brood might be intact and has had a minimum weight of 450 g for S. serrata and 350 g for S. Olivacea and S. tranqubarica (Quinitio and Parado-Estepa, 2008). Intact brood provided better reproductive performance (Thache, 2009) and broods with injured appendages are not suitable due to low hatching rate and unsuitable larvae quality due to utilization of nutrients for regeneration of lost appendages (Zainoddin, 2001;Quinitio et al, 2010).…”

“…pond culture, cage culture, drive-in cage culture, pen culture) have been developed for mud crab to meet up the growing global demand. But specific documented information on broodstock development under captive condition is therefore scanty yet, except the findings of Quinitio et al (2010) on Scylla serrata broodstockunder pond condition.…”

Non-indigenous giant mud crab, Scylla serrata (Forskål, 1775) (Crustacea: Brachyura: Portunidae) in Malaysian coastal waters: a call for caution

“…Well known for their resilience -highly tolerance to water salinity changes, ability to survive out of water and without food for a long period (Quinitio et al 2011), released or escaped S. serrata imported from other countries could easily survive and invade the local environment. Comparatively larger in terms of average body size than the other three Scylla species (Keenan et al 1998), S. serrata may have greater nutritional requirements and a better advantage in its competition for food compared to local species i.e.…”

Morphological deformities in mud crab S cylla serrata juveniles exposed to antibiotics during the larval stage

“…These deformities except FLS may lower the market value of crabs when very severe (Quinitio et al . ), unlike the deformities such as FFS and FLS which may not be obviously seen when sold in crab trading centres. Quinitio et al .…”