(3 minutes read)
- Between January and September, 2021, crab production in Mozambique was down 28.3 % compared to the previous year, according to the National Fisheries Administration
- From 1 November to 31 March next year, the southern African country will impose ban on catching shrimps and crabs
- The crab catch in 2021 stood at 6,019 tons, compared to 8,400 tons last year.
Between January and September, 2021, crab production in Mozambique was down 28.3 % compared to the previous year, according to the National Fisheries Administration. From 1 November to 31 March next year, the southern African country will impose a ban on catching shrimps and crabs. The crab catch in 2021 stood at 6,019 tons, compared to 8,400 tons last year. The  reduction in the catch was  mainly due to the obligation for fishing companies to get involved in the  aquaculture projects. Such projects can no longer operate in the traditional way and have opted for the farming of species in captivity for availing the government incentives. Of the 21 licenses granted to fishing operators in 2020, 12 had opted for the production of crab in captivity this year.
However, the shrimp catch was encouraging, with the 2021 catch standing at 5,901 tons. There was a slight increase of three percent compared to the same period in 2020, when production was 5,801 tons.
Shrimp and crab are subject to an annual closed season, which aims to guarantee stock for the next fishing season. The  closed season for shrimp – from November 1 to March 31 next year, is longer than that for crab, which lasts only until December 31st.
