Ca Mau: Safeguarding Vietnam’s Finest Crab Legacy
Ca Mau crab has earned the reputation of “Vietnam’s Finest Crab” due to the region’s exceptional natural conditions, which are hard to find elsewhere.
Bordered by the sea on three sides, Ca Mau boasts an extensive mangrove ecosystem covering over 63,000 hectares, primarily within the Ca Mau Cape World Biosphere Reserve and Ca Mau Cape National Park. Crabs here thrive naturally beneath the mangrove canopy, especially in coastal districts such as Nam Can, Ngoc Hien, and Dam Doi. The nutrient-rich silt from tidal flows, abundant food sources, and high salinity create the perfect conditions for firm, flavorful crab meat rich in roe, solidifying Ca Mau’s reputation as a top-tier crab-producing region.
To boost productivity and support the sustainable growth of the crab industry, Ca Mau launched the Sustainable Crab Development Project in 2023, targeting goals through 2030. By that time, the province aims to stabilize the crab farming area at around 265,000 hectares, achieve an average yield of 100 kg per hectare annually, and reach a total output of 29,150 tons per year.
In Tan Tao hamlet, Tan Hung Dong commune, Cai Nuoc district, Nguyen Thi Quyen’s family has adopted a recirculating water filtration system to raise clean, high-quality crabs in plastic containers, yielding impressive economic returns.
Currently, Ca Mau’s crab farming area covers more than 250,000 hectares, with an average annual growth rate of 2.29%. The province produces over 24,000 tons of crab annually, reflecting an average growth rate of 5.85%, and generates approximately VND 5,000 billion in revenue each year. Ca Mau crabs are now exported to international markets such as the United States, China, Laos, and Cambodia.
With the significant potential and cultural pride associated with this local delicacy, both provincial authorities and local farmers are working together to implement strategies that safeguard the “Vietnam’s Finest Crab” brand.
VFM
