Malaysia: Breeder boosts horseshoe crab population

REMAR NORDIN The Star 3 Aug 19;

Brisk business: Khairul showing a fully mature horseshoe crab at Sedili Kechil Horseshoe Crab Farm and Hatchery in Kota Tinggi.

JOHOR BARU: Ahmad Mustafa used to sell horseshoe crabs for a living, a job he inherited from his father – until he noticed a decline in the population of the species.

But he did not give up. After eight years of tireless effort to save the population of the crustacean, he has successfully transformed himself from a wholesaler into a breeder.

The 52-year-old, who became a horseshoe crab wholesaler 30 years ago, is now entrusted by the government with running Sedili Kechil Horseshoe Crab Farm and Hatchery in Kota Tinggi here.

Built on his house, the hatchery was started after Ahmad noticed a decline in his haul.

“That prompted me to start my own makeshift hatchery by collecting eggs from female horseshoe crabs.

“I pitched my idea to LKIM (Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia), which later funded the development of a breeding room for the horseshoe crab, ” he said in an interview.

Ahmad, a second-generation fisherman of horseshoe crabs, has since handed over the business to his son Mohd Khairul Idham.

According to Khairul, 23, more than 15, 000 eggs can be harvested from at least 13 horseshoe crabs for every three months, and it takes a year to grow them into an average palm-sized crab.

“From there, we will release them back to the sea to grow in their natural habitat and harvest them at the age of 14 to 16 years, ” he said.

He added that some of the female horseshoe crabs were sold back to them by local fishermen.

He said this was a way for them to ensure the sustainability of the population and that the cycle of wealth was shared among the local horseshoe crab fishermen.

The hatchery is presently capable of exporting up to 7, 000 horseshoe crabs a year to Thailand.

“We export to Thailand because it is the only country that orders a huge number. I understand that the Thais use horseshoe crab eggs in their cuisine, ” he said.

A horseshoe crab can sell for between RM20 and RM40 depending on the size and weight.

Khairul said the hatchery had gone through a series of upgrading works with aid from PNK (Area Fishermen’s Association) and LKIM.

“We have also received allocations from Kejora (South East Johore Development Authority) to make the hatchery a tourist attraction, ” he said.

Meanwhile, state LKIM director Noslan Setat said the increasing demand for horseshoe crabs for pharmaceutical purposes had almost harmed the crab population in the area.

“In 1970, the price for a single crab was 15 sen but today, the cheapest is RM8. In order to save the population, LKIM has taken steps to provide horseshoe crab eggs for free, ” he said.

LKIM, he added, had spent RM890, 000 to help develop Sedili Kechil Horseshoe Crab Farm and Hatchery.

Noslan said the hatchery exported 36 tonnes of horseshoe crabs every year, valued at RM1.2mil.

“Aside from giving extra income to fishermen in the area, the venture has helped to boost the horseshoe crab numbers, ” he said.

LKIM planned to open another hatchery in Pulau Kukup in the future, he added.