Mud crab farming in Kenya has reached a significant milestone with the success of Crabs Alive, marking the first nursery in the country to make substantial strides in this industry. Spearheaded by Justin Aniere, the CEO of Crabs Alive, this venture has been over a decade in the making, involving the breeding of mud crabs (Scylla serrata) in aquaculture facilities near the Che Shale Hotel in Kenya.
The pivotal moment arrived in November last year, as Crabs Alive, with the support of the renowned mud crab advisory group Scylla, successfully produced its first batch of crabs from the nursery. Building on this success, a second batch followed in December, laying the foundation for a new era in mud crab farming in Kenya.
Justin Aniere, in a press release, expressed optimism about Kenya becoming a significant player in the mud crab farming industry, catering to both domestic and international markets.
Crabs Alive has garnered approval and support from various local and international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Kenya Marine Fisheries Socio-Economic Development (KEMFSED) project, backed by the World Bank.
Looking ahead, Crabs Alive has ambitious plans for expansion, aiming to grow its nursery and hatchery production facilities. Collaborating with local community farmers is on the agenda to achieve commercial-scale mud crab production. Moreover, the company envisions leveraging government aquaculture facilities to achieve the first commercial quantities of farmed crabs in Kenya.
Crabs Alive is also committed to collaboration with the local Bahari Hai Conservation Group to support the conservation of the mud crab fishery. As mud crab aquaculture relies on access to mature crabs for breeding, fostering a healthy local fishery is vital until domesticated stocks can meet the demand. With these strategic initiatives, Crabs Alive is paving the way for a sustainable future for mud crab farming in Kenya.
