The Andhra Pradesh State Fisheries Department is gearing up to establish a mangrove crab (Scylla serrata) hatchery across a five-acre plot in Chira Yanam, located within the Godavari estuary in Katrenikona mandal, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district.
On Saturday, Fisheries Commissioner T. Dola Shankar and Sundeep, Director of the Sustainable Coastal Management Division under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), convened discussions with District Collector R. Mahesh Kumar in Amalapuram to finalize the project’s timeline and execution. The officials also conducted a site inspection at the proposed location.
In an official statement, Mr. Mahesh Kumar confirmed, “A five-acre parcel of land at Chira Yanam has been allocated for the Scylla serrata hatchery, which will be developed with a funding of ₹2.7 crore.”
Currently, Tamil Nadu is home to the nation’s only operational mangrove crab hatchery.
The coastal communities of Andhra Pradesh, including the Yanadi tribal groups, rely heavily on harvesting mangrove crabs from the Krishna and Godavari mangrove ecosystems. However, since 2018, commercial farming of the species in the state has struggled due to seed quality issues and disease outbreaks. Shrimp farmers, particularly in the former Krishna district, faced significant financial losses when they attempted Scylla serrata cultivation.
The Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA-Chennai) introduced crab fattening technology to Andhra Pradesh as a potential solution, but it failed to deliver the anticipated results.
This new hatchery is expected to address these challenges by providing high-quality crab seeds and revitalizing the prospects for mangrove crab cultivation in the state.