Releasing Crabs Back to the Sea

Together with a large and diverse group of young members, with almost a hundred of participants from 21 different Asia-Pacific countries have joined the environmental cohort to launch the releasing crabs back to sea initiative along the coastline at Cha-am, Thailand. The initiative was co-organized by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), Thailand and the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park (SIEP), Thailand.

In about two-hundred sea crabs ranging from baby (infant), adolescent (juvenile) and mature crabs were being released into the sea. All crabs were carefully released into the sea after removing the safety knots that prevent the claw from hurting the participants.

Fertilized female crabs or commonly known as sponge crabs were given higher priority as each of them carried in about one to two million egg larvae. The microscopic egg larvae and named as ?zoea? in the scientific terminology will be sweeping across the sea when they were fully developed. Zoea will undergo a series of growth stages before they resemble a mature crab.

Female crab able to produce many fertilized eggs but most of the female crabs upon full growth will be only able to mate once in their lifetime. The over-consumption of fertilized female crabs may indirectly pose a threat to the total regeneration rate as well as disturbing the ecosystem of crabs.

Food for thought: Avoid consuming (buying) any fertilized female crabs