ICAR-CIBA has achieved a breakthrough in blue crab farming technology

Blue Swimmer Crab can be successfully grown in a relatively short production cycle, comparable to shrimp farming.

ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIBA), Chennai based in Chennai, has successfully reared and harvested blue crab (Portunus reticulatus) for the first time in the country. This was achieved by using hatchery seed produced by the institute and scientifically formulated pellet feed developed by ICAR-CIBA.

Kuldeep Kumar Lal, Director, ICAR-CIBA, said that the institute has successfully standardized a comprehensive technology package for blue crab aquaculture. The package includes advanced hatchery seed production protocols, a specialized feed labeled BSCrabPlus, and optimized breeding and breeding practices.

This technology offers a promising new opportunity for farmers looking for profitable alternatives and complements to existing shrimp farming systems.

“Blue Swimmer Crab can be successfully grown in a relatively short production cycle, comparable to shrimp farming. With a lower level of cannibalism than many other brackish crab species and strong domestic and international market demand, this technology represents a highly viable and sustainable option for aquaculture diversification,” said Dr. Lal.

In a demonstration trial, blue crab seed was stocked at a density of one crab per square meter and fed with a nutritionally balanced ICAR-CIBA feed. After a cultivation period of 105 days, the harvest yielded a productivity of 1,100 kg per hectare, with commercial crabs reaching an average body weight of 150 grams. The harvested crabs fetched an attractive market price of ₹500 per kilogram, underscoring the strong commercial potential of the technology.

A harvest event was organized at the ICAR-CIBA Muttukadu Experimental Station on June 22 to demonstrate the performance of the farming system. During the event, an income of ₹1,22,500 was handed over to the beneficiaries, Success Self-Help Group, Pudhunemmelikuppam, Chengalpattu District, who were involved in the demonstration under the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP).

S. Kandan, Director, Rajiv Gandhi Center for Aquaculture (RGCA), Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), who participated in the harvest, said technologies developed by research institutions like ICAR-CIBA could be effectively transferred to farmers through RGCA under MPEDA.

Published – 22 Jun 2026 19:23 IST