Cà Mau is the “capital” of mud crab in the western area, with the output of farmed and wild-caught crabs reaching around 20,000 tons per year. Despite difficulties in exporting to China, prices of this species have remained high.
Some seafood farm owners in Bạc Liêu and Cà Mau said that prices of mud crab had declined by 100,000 dong/kg due to difficulties in exporting to China. However, traders in local markets are selling mud crabs at high prices, roe mud crabs alone are sold at 500,000 – 600,000 dong/kg.
According to a crab farm owner in Bạc Liêu, mud crabs size 4 pcs/kg are sold at 220,000-270,000 dong, those size 3 pcs/kg are sold at 300,000-350,000 dong, and those size 2 pcs/kg are sold at 370,000-400,000 dong. On December 27, roe mud crabs type I (size 2-3 pcs/kg) were sold at 450,000-500,000 dong.
Lê Văn Dũng, a seafood trader in Phước Long commune of Phước Long district, Bạc Liêu province said that the farmgate price of roe mud crab was 400,000 dong/kg and mud crab was 250,000 dong/kg.
“Prices of roe mud crabs size 3-4 pcs/kg have stayed at 320,000 dong/kg for months. This species is caught in the ocean, their meat is more flavorus and delicious than those being farmed in freshwater”, said Lâm Hồng – a crab farmer in Sóc Trăng.
Deputy Director of Cà Mau provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) Châu Công Bằng said that the largest mud crab farming area was located in Đầm Dơi, Năm Căn, and Ngọc Hiển districts. Around 20,000 tons of farmed and wild-caught crabs are recorded every year.
In his opinion, prices of Cà Mau mud crab have remained high. Leaders of the DARD have not received any feedback from districts about decrease in prices of mud crab due to difficulties in exporting to China.
“Prices of sea mud crab have remained high. I just bought mud crab yesterday, 500,000 dong/kg”, said Bằng.
VFM
