The Crab Company (Fiji)

Linking Fisheries to Tourism-Related Markets

Nadi, July 2015

The Crab Business

Traditional Fiji Style

New Fiji Style

Market research

• Unreliable

• Quality and fullness of crab often poor

• Small quantities

• Variable prices

• Resorts can’t afford to put them on the menu if they are uncertain of supply and quality

Constraints to development

• History of Aquaculture Development – Government rather than private sector driven

• No examples of successful Private Public Partnerships

• Raising capital

A new approach

A new business model

premium quality product

Ponds

Mangrove pens

technology

Swimming to walking

Nursing to feeding

Post harvestWhat the resorts require

PREMIUM QUALITY CRABS FOR INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS

SO WHAT’S IN IT FOR WOMEN?

A women’s cooperative

A proud farmer

From fishing to farming?

TODAYS crab MARKETPLACE

TRADITIONAL

• NO QUALITY CONTROL

• LIMITED LOCAL MARKETS

• DIFFICULT TO SELL INTO MARKETS REQUIRING LOTS OF CRABS

• OFTEN DEAD OR DYING CRABS SOLD

NEW APPROACH

• TOTAL QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEM

• COURIER DELIVERY TO LOCAL TOURIST AND FOOD SERVICE MARKETS

• ACCESS TO EXPORT MARKETS

• TRADE IN VOLUME

• ALL CRABS TOP QUALITY – EMPTY CRABS FATTENED

Professional marketing

Market Development

• Hilton /Sofitel / Shangri-La / Grand Pacific / Governors

• Sales only limited by supply at this stage

• Crabs graded by size and quality

• Huge export potential

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

• MANGROVES SUPPORT INSHORE FISHERIES

• MANGROVES PROVIDE PROTECTION FROM TSUNAMIS AND STORM SURGES

• WELL MANAGED MANGROVES ARE AN IMPORTANT NATURAL RESOURCE FOR COMMUNITIES

• FARMING AND FISHING FOR CRABS IN MANGROVES INCREASES THEIR VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY

• FARMING MUD CRABS IN MANGROVES HAS BEEN RECOGNISED AS A TYPE OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Pilot production Stage

completed

USP Hatchery Constructed and operated

Broodstock & nursery systems

Nursery Tanks USP Broodstock Tanks USP

Capacity building

Fijian hatchery technician trainees and farm hands taken on, increasing local capacity

Navua farm renovated

• 6 hectares of ponds brought into production, with another 4 hectares developed

• 4 new crab holding concrete tanks constructed

• Processing shed completed and HACCP system in place

Supported by regional development groups

• SPC / IACT Grant

• Training in post-harvest techniques

• Feed processing machinery

• Improve crab processing shed & establish HACCP system

• Promotion materials & website

• MDF – Market Development Facility

• New pond development – equipment & labour hire

• Support for overseas specialist staff

• Construction of mangrove pens to farm crabs

Fully Integrated Production System

• Full farmer Training

• Extension service

• Farm cluster concept

• Pen design and construction

• Crablet supply

• Feed supply

• Total quality control

• Processing and packaging

• Marketing and sales

Benefits to fiji

• Poverty alleviation

• Rural employment & income generation

• Excellent export opportunities

• Supports tourism industry

• Import substitution

• Major involvement of women and youth

• Environmentally sustainable

• Use of native species

• Added value to mangroves

• Use waste streams in feed formulation

Investment required for

A new hatchery

40-50 hectares of ponds

Several hundred ha of mangrove pens over next 5

years

Export market development

and

Value added production lines