Presentation by Dr Colin Shelley, Co-founder and Executive Director, The Crab Company of (Fiji) Ltd at the Pacific community agritourism week,29 June - 03 July 2015

1. The Crab Company (Fiji)
Linking Fisheries to Tourism-Related Markets
Nadi, July 2015

2. The Crab Business
Traditional Fiji Style New Fiji Style

3. 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

4. Constraints to development
• History of Aquaculture
Development –
Government rather than
private sector driven
• No examples of successful
Private Public Partnerships
• Raising capital

5. A new approach
A new business model

6. premium quality product

8. Ponds

9. Mangrove pens

10. technology

11. Swimming to walking

12. Nursing to feeding

13. Post harvest
What the resorts require
PREMIUM QUALITY CRABS FOR
INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS

14. SO WHAT’S IN IT FOR WOMEN?
A women’s
cooperative
A proud farmer

15. From fishing to farming?

16. 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

17. Professional marketing

18. 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

19. 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

20. Pilot production
Stage completed
USP Hatchery Constructed
and operated

21. Broodstock & nursery
systems
Nursery Tanks USP Broodstock Tanks USP

22. Capacity building
Fijian hatchery technician trainees
and farm hands taken on, increasing
local capacity

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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