MORE than 10,000 horseshoe crabs (belangkas) are released into the sea every three months by the breeding centre in Sedili Kechil, Kota Tinggi.
This is part of their efforts to ensure a sustainable future for marine life.
The Sedili Kechil Horseshoe Crab Hatchery and Breeding Centre is led by its second-generation owner, Azizah Ahmad.
She said their business has started to slowly pick up after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mohd Khadi Redzuan Ahmad holding horseshoe crabs just before they are exported to Thailand.
“It will take about 15 years before these horseshoe crabs can reach maturity and be sold for consumption,” said Azizah.
She said the breeding centre started about 30 years ago when her father, Ahmad Mustafa, who was a horseshoe crab wholesaler, noticed that there was a decline in their population.
“He then started building a breeding and hatchery pond in our house.
“And today we have about 10 ponds dedicated to breeding and hatching horseshoe crab eggs,” she told StarMetro.
All of the mature crabs are exported to Thailand, where 99% of their business is located, and only about 1% is sold to locals in Kota Tinggi.
“Horseshoe crab is a delicacy in Thailand,” said Azizah.
“Unlike crabs, the horseshoe variety does not have any meat but a lot of roe.
“The delicacy is usually grilled or stir-fried.
“Their blue blood is also used for pharmaceutical purposes,” she said, adding that locals would usually cook it masak lemak cili api-style.
The hatchery is able to export more than 2,000 horseshoe crabs a month.
“Normally, the harvesting season will have a slow start in January after the monsoon season has reached its peak,” said Azizah.
“March to June will be our busiest months as the numbers will increase and the demand from Thailand is high.”
She said it would then decline from July to December due to the mating season.
All the mature crabs were collected by local horseshoe fishermen around Sedili Kechil, she said.
“We have about 30 fishermen who send their catch to us.
“We will then sort them out according to their weight.
“For a horseshoe that weighs between 600g and 800g, the price will be RM25, while those above that weight are sold for RM35 each,” she added.
