A sizable number  of  fisherfolk diverted  theirfishing effort for crab fishery. Better catch of crabs urged

the  processors  to  adopt  indigenous  processing

technology. The crabs are  first  sorted  out  species-wise  and  quality-wise for processing

Balasubramanian, T S

Manickaraja, M

CMFRI Digital Repository

TECHNICAL AND EXTENSION SERIESCENTRAL MARINE G46ISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTECOCHIN, INDIA(INDIAN COUNCIL OG46 AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH)ISSN 0254-380 XMARINE G46ISHERIESING46ORMATION SERVICENo. 182 October, November, December, 200413Innovative method of processing crabs at landing centreMid nineties had witnessed a sudden spurt in the crabexport trade due to good demand in the foreign market.Hence a sizable number of fisherfolk diverted theirfishing effort for crab fishery. Better catch of crabs urgedthe processors to adopt indigenous processingtechnology. Such a technology was encourntered atVellapatty, a fishing hamlet situated 15 km north ofTuticorin. Both Vellapatty and Tharuvaikulam, northof Tuticorin are well known for crab fishery alongTuticorin coast in Gulf of Mannar.G46orm G46ebruary 2003 onwards, the crabs procured arepartially processed right at the landing centre and thentransported to the processing plants situated far awayfrom the landing centre for further processing. The crabsare first sorted out species-wise and quality-wise.Undersized, moulted and spoiled crabs are discarded.Good quality crabs are selected, washed in fresh waterand boiled in a specially designed drum with the helpof gas stove. Each container contains two drums; theinner one with holes and the outer one without holes(G46ig. 1). Crabs are boiled in steam for about 45 minutes,transferred to plastic trays, (20 kg/tray) spread looselyfor cooling and placed in shelves (G46ig. 2). The  shelvesare neatly covered by mosquito curtains to preventcontamination by houseflies and other insects. Aftercooling the crabs are transferred to insulated containers.G46ew pieces of broken ice are spread at the bottom. ThenG46ig. 1 Steam boiled crabsG46ig. 2 Cooling of crabs in plastic trays arranged inshelves1104Kannada. Both the animals were auctioned for Rs. 660.MangaloreMar. G46ish. Infor. Serv., T&E Ser., No. 182, 2004a polyethylene sheet is placed over the ice followed bythe stocking of crabs which are finally covered byanother polyethylene sheet with ice pieces. Then thelid of the container is closed tightly. Such containersare transported to processing plants where the crabmeat is seperated, processed further and packed incartons for export.In another method, the carapace and mouth parts ofthe crab are removed first and then the flesh is cleanedby brush. Using scissors, the crab is cut in the mid regionlength wise into two pieces. The two halves areseperated and cleaned in fresh water. The tips of thechelae and tips of the walking legs are removed, washedagain, packed with ice in plastic containers andtransported to the processing units for furtherprocessing.Reported by : M. Manickaraja and T. S. Balasubramanian, TuticorinResearch Centre of CMG46RI, Tuticorin.

Innovative method of processing crabs at landing centre

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Innovative method of processing crabs at landing centre

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