By Windy Rizki

The TAKA Foundation, accompanied by WWF-Indonesia, conducted a consultation on mangrove crab management with the Marine and Fisheries Service (DKP) and local residents. This activity was carried out on April 30 at the KPD Hall in Mojo Village, Pemalang, the event was attended by 23 participants from sustainable crab fishermen members as well as several representatives from DKP.

This activity is one of the follow-ups of the sustainable fisheries management efforts and sustainable fisheries simulations that were previously carried out. Miko, the Director of TAKA, started the activity by giving a presentation on the results of a limited data mangrove crab stock assessment study which informed that this species has a high vulnerability to overfishing. Fishing regulations are needed to ensure that mangrove crab resources in Pemalang can remain sustainable. This was followed by Windy from WWF-Indonesia who briefly discussed mangrove crabs in Manado yesterday.

In the discussion with the fishermen who are members of the sustainable fishermen group, some preliminary agreements were made, namely the regulation of catches of 4 species of mangrove crabs (Scylla seratta, Scylla tranquebarica, Scylla paramamosain, Scylla olivacea) which are in the final stage of spawning, usually indicated by the characteristics of eggs attached to the lower carapace wall. In addition, the size of the crab is also an agreed rule, which is limited to <80 grams (kg = 12 fish). To ensure the rules are implemented, sanctions are agreed upon for violators. These sanctions range from fines, to expulsion from the sustainable crab group.

These agreements and sanctions are made so that crab fishermen are disciplined in working and are committed to preserving nature in meeting their needs. This regulation will later be legalized as a village regulation and is expected to become a DKP Decree which then binds the internal sustainable crab fishing group.