Current Trends in Hatchery Techniques and Stock Enhancement for Chinese Mitten Crab, Eriocheir japonica sinensis

Abstract

Aquaculture of the Native Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir japonica sinensis) has developed quickly in China to reach 570,000 mt in 2005, which exceeds all other worldwide production of crab from aquaculture and capture fisheries combined. We review the development of aquaculture techniques and stock enhancement that account for this successful production of Chinese mitten crabs. There are two models for mitten crab larviculture. In the first model, intensive larviculture occurs in indoor concrete ponds, with conditions of temperature control, aeration, and a plentiful supply of food (algae, egg yolk, rotifers, Artemia nauplii). In the second model, outdoor extensive larviculture occurs in earth ponds with no temperature control. Grow-out of the mitten crab focuses on release of cultured seed crabs into net enclosures in lakes. As a rule, the production of adult crabs is l50–450 kg/ha and as high as 975 kg/ha. Recently, Chinese researchers noticed deterioration of water quality and the exhaustion of natural food resources in many lakes due to over-stocking crabs, and many studies are now beginning to investigate a model for the sustainable aquaculture of Chinese mitten crab in these systems.

Keywords:

• mitten crab
• Eriocheir japonica sinensis
• hatchery technique
• pond culture
• stock enhancement

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grant No. 30471349 from the National Nature Science Foundation of China.