BORNEO BULLETIN- 3rd January 2010

An emerging business – soft shell crab farming

By AZARAIMY HH Jan 3rd, 2010

Golden Crabs Enterprise Partners, Pengiran Hj Haris, Haji Hasbola and Haji Ramli

The exoskeleton of a crab is lifted to show the soft shell underneath. When the crab grows it sheds the shell- a process called molting

cabinets used for rearing the soft shells crabs. Photos: Azaraimy HH

soft shell crabs for sale at Golden Crabs Enterprise in Kg Lambak, No 13, Spg 271, Lambak Industrial Complex

Besides prawn-rearing, there is another aquaculture-based opportunity to help the nation achieve self-sufficiency in food production – indoor soft shell crab farming, which also has export potential.

Fished out fresh not from ponds or the sea, the high-meat content soft shell crabs can be reared by anyone without hectares of farmland or sea farm. Produced in cabinets, the farming method is fully organic, meaning there is not a drop of chemical used.

Industry sources told the Bulletin that the Sultanate imports 50 per cent of its crab needs, 40 per cent from wild catches and 10 per cent from pond farms.

Therefore, the potential for soft shell crabs is huge.

Golden Crabs Enterprise, the first local firm to produce soft shell crabs, started its operations last August.

The company supplies the crabs to local restaurants and hotels, but according to the proprietors, they have received an overseas demand for one tonne of soft shell crabs.

However, the company’s production capacity can’t satisfy that demand.

Seeing this opportunity, the company is offering the public a chance to take part in the business and develop the soft shell crab production into a thriving cottage industry, something that is being done in countries such as Thailand and Malaysia.

The firm’s managing director said the company wants to develop the production of soft shell crab as a public programme to improve the economy of any family.

Thus, soft shell crabs present a new frontier in the nation’s cottage industry.

It is an opportunity that many have voiced their enthusiasm in venturing into, the Bulletin learnt.

Golden Crab Enterprise said it will supply the technology to the public to rear the high-meat content crabs in order to raise local production to meet local demands and export potential.

According to one of the owners, Hj Habola Shah bin Rosmali Shah, Golden Crab Enterprise is offering two options to would-be producers.

The public, meaning the producer or enthusiast, can buy the special cabinet-like set used to rear soft shell crabs at their own home or premises.

They would then sell the crabs to Golden Crab Enterprise, which would act as a wholesaler or reseller.

This is called contract farming, said the company.

The second option is a bit easier but has limitations for the local producer. The local producer or enthusiast can buy the special cabinet-like set and placed them under the care of Golden Crab Enterprise at its farm sites.

This means, the local enthusiast only has to “sit and wait”.

At the end of the production cycle, the producer pays for “certain” services to Golden Crab Enterprise out of the sales, which will also be taken care of by Golden Crabs Enterprise or whatever the agreement is.

Rearing soft shell crabs is not similar to the production of normal crabs.

Although it is organic production – the crabs grow naturally – it is nevertheless using technology in its approach to achieve the “miracle”.

Without dwelling too much on the technicalities, it is sufficient to say that the production requires constant attention and extra care.

Golden Crab Enterprise explains: When crabs grow, their outer shell – the exoskeleton – doesn’t grow with them, so crabs must regularly shed the shell to increase in size.

This process is known as molting. Soft-shell crabs are crustacean seafood that can be eaten whole after molting their hard shell.

However, the crabs grow out of their shells very quickly, so the crabs must be transferred from their “cabinet box” after molting within two to three hours.

Before that, a small crab weighing around 100 grammes will be put into each cabinet shelf, after molting – or about a month – the crab will weigh around 250 grammes each – “fully meat”.

A single unit of the cabinet set (42 shelves/boxes with each crab occupying one box or shelf) costs $4,200.

There are currently 14 sets at Golden Crab Enterprise, some of which already belong to local producers, it was learnt.

The crabs cost $18 per kilo, which is more expensive than normal crabs but soft shell crabs have high-meat content and are much easier to eat.

Golden Crabs Enterprise said it is ordering more units as the company is confident that demand from potential local producers will increase.

Those interested in rearing the soft shell crabs can take a two-day course starting on September 9 at the soft shell crab farming site. There will be a fee.

Those interested can contact Hj Hasbola Shah bin Rosmali Shah at 8751657 or Hj Ramli bin Hj Othman at 8784125 for information.

http://news.brunei.fm/2010/01/03/an-emerging-business-soft-shell-crab-farming/