China Fujian Zhangzhou red swimming crab - bottom trawl & pot/trap

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Overview

China’s Fujian Province is the leading fishing region in China for a ‘red swimming crab species group’ (RSC) comprised of red swimming crab (Portunus haanii) and three-spot (or red-spot) swimming crab (Portunus sanguinolentus). On an annual basis, approximately 40,000 metric tons of RSC is caught in the province, most of which is processed in Zhangzhou. RSC is not only commercially important in China, but also supplies an important export market of crabmeat, much of which is imported by the United States in the form of canned crab. The Fujian Zhangzhou Red Swimming Crab FIP, comprised of over 1,000 bottom trawl and pot vessels, takes place on the Minnan-Taiwan Bank fishing grounds and is subject to a summer fishery closure common to all Chinese coastal areas. This closure attempts to protect fish stocks during the summer season, which is the general spawning and growth period for most economically important species. For the RSC fishery, the current lack of several key approaches—i.e., science-based stock assessments, the implementation of a minimum harvestable size limit, and maximum sustainable yield (MSY) fishery management strategies—represents a serious risk to the fishery as little is known about the actual stock status of target species. Since 2012, many processors have found that large crabs reaching the processable size, those with a carapace width of 8 cm or greater, have been decreasing in numbers. It’s estimated undersized crabs might account for as high as 80% of the harvest.

FIP Description 

China’s Fujian Province is the leading fishing region in China for a ‘red swimming crab species group’ (RSC) comprised of red swimming crab (Portunus haanii) and three-spot (or red-spot) swimming crab (Portunus sanguinolentus).

FIP Objective(s) 

The objective of this FIP is to transition the fishery management to science-based catch management strategies in order to increase the abundance, harvest size and sustainable yield of red swimming crab in the Zhangzhou region with the end goal of the fishery achieving a level of sustainable performance commensurate with the MSC standard by 2025-2027.

FIP Type 
Comprehensive
FIP Stage 
Stage 4: Improvements in Fishing Practices or Fishery Management
Start and Projected End Dates
August 2018
December 2027
Update 
This project has always been envisioned as a long-term effort that would take on the order of ten years. The profile had a projected end date of December 2022 based on the initial five year work plan, but efforts are continuing. We have updated the projected end date accordingly.
Next Progress Report Due 
Sunday, June 30, 2024
Species 
Common Name 
Warty Swimming Crab
Scientific Name
Portunus haanii
Common Name 
Three Spot Swimming Crab
Scientific Name
Portunus sanguinolentus
Gear Type 
Bottom Trawl
Pot/Trap
Location
FAO Major Fishing Area
Area 61 (Pacific, Northwest)
Exclusive Economic Zones
Country 
China
Geographic Scope 
The FIP fleet operates in the Minnan-Taiwan Bank area off Fujian Province
Landings
Estimated Total FIP Landings 
49,000 metric tons
Estimated Total Fishery Landings 
61,000 metric tons
Landings Date 
January 2024
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FIP at a Glance

View current status
August 01, 2018
21% 64% 14%
Progress Rating (A) Advanced Progress

Reserved for comprehensive FIPs that have achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result within the past 12 months.

(B) Good Progress

A basic FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result within 12 months.

(C) Some Recent Progress
  • A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months AND has reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
  • A FIP younger than 12 months that has never achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result but has reported a Stage 3 activity within the first 12 months.
(D) Some Past Progress
  • A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months BUT has not reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
  • A FIP for which the most recent Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 36) months old AND a Stage 3 activity has been reported within six months.
  • A FIP 12-36 months old that has never reported a Stage 4 or 5 result AND has reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
(E) Negligible Progress
  • A FIP for which the most recent Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 36) months old, with no Stage 3 activity reported in the last six months.
  • A FIP younger than 12 months with no Stage 3 activity reported within 12 months.
  • A FIP 12-36 months old that has never reported a Stage 4 or 5 result AND has not reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.

The ratings are currently derived by SFP from publicly available data on FIP websites, including FisheryProgress.org, and are determined using the following methodology: View PDF

A Advanced Progress
Actions Complete

This pie chart represents completed environmental actions. Non-completed environmental actions may contain completed sub-tasks that are not illustrated here. For more information on environmental action progress visit the Actions Progress tab.

  • Complete
  • Incomplete
Next Update Due FisheryProgress requires a FIP to provide update reports every six months, and two missed reports will render the FIP inactive. If a report is overdue, this date will appear red.
Jun 2024
Target End Date
Dec 2027
Additional Impacts:
TraceabilityEcosystemOther

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
Ocean Outcomes
Organization Type 
NGO
Primary Contact 
Rich Lincoln
Organization Name 
Tao Ran
Organization Type 
Consultant
Primary Contact 
Songlin Wang
FIP Identification Number The FIP Identification Number is automatically generated by FisheryProgress when a FIP profile is created. While the number itself is not meaningful, they are used by NGOs, academia, and industry to refer to FIPs in a consistent way.
9013