A natural hatchery of 'Royal Crab' on Cox's Bazar beach now displays a dream of blue economy. This hachery is developed to conduct research on the sea animal roya crab, which is considered as a valuable medicinal properties.
Scientists of Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (BORI) set up the hatchery on 40 decimals of land with a bamboo enclosure at the estuary of Rezukhal on the beach on Friday (February 2). Initially, 119 crabs were released in this hatchery, where there are 71 male and 48 female royal crabs collected from the sea coast.
Royal crabs have lived on Earth for more than 450 million years. Limulus came to Earth about 200 million years earlier than dinosaurs.
To zologists, the blue blood of the royal crab is very valuable for the microbiological and pharmaceutical industries. Due to its medicinal qualities, its demand in the international market is also widespread.
The price of the blue blood of the royal crab is 60 thousand US dollars per gallon or about 72 lakh taka. Not only blueblood, soup made with king crab is very beneficial because of its medicinal properties. An element called 'cytosine' is obtained from the hard shell above, which is used to make various products.
Since August 2021, scientists at the Ocean Research Institute have been conducting research on the royal crab. Scientists believe that the king crab will make a big contribution to the blue economy.
BORI's ongoing research on royal crabs is very promising, said Professor Dr. Touhida Rashid, Director General of the institute.
She said the royal crab will make a big contribution to the blue economy. To this end, a hatchery has been set up on the beach adjacent to BORI to further the research activities.
Dr Gobinda Chanda Biswal, biooceanographer and royal crab expert, former principal of KN College of Basic Sciences in India, is in the technical supervision of the research program.
He said, "Research on kinkg crabs can be conducted from the hatchery. It will help to know the behavior of this crab. ’
Dr. Gobinda Chandra Biswal said, "There are two varieties of royal crab in Bangladesh. Of these, there is a huge reserve of 'Carcinocorpius Rotondocada' in the mangrove region of Maheshkhali. Every year during the breeding season, thousands of royal crabs come here to lay eggs. Then the molecule from the egg boils in the natural environment and goes to the sea. ’
"Different countries, including the USA, China and India, are producing very expensive medicines from the blood of royal crabs. Besides, it is very popular as a soup in different countries including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore!
The Indian oceanographer said that the royal crab can play an important role in the economy of Bangladesh.
Tariqul Islam, senior scientific officer of Bangladesh Ocean Research Institute (BORI), said royal crabs are found more on muddy beaches. This hatchery has also been built in that suitable place. A total of 71 male and 48 female monarch crabs collected from the sea coast have been released in this hatchery.
He said research activities on royal crab have been conducted since 2021 with the technical assistance of Indian king crab expert Dr. Gobinda Chand Biswal. Scientists are now working for commercial use.
