Philippines blue swimming crab - bottom-set gillnet & pot/trap (PACPI)

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Overview

The Philippines blue swimming crab is a cosmopolitan species in the coastal waters in the Philippines. This fishery is a significant sub-sector of the crustacean fishery. More than 90% of the catch is from municipal waters, caught within 15 km from the coastline by fishing boats weighing less than 3 gross tonnes. Entangling nets and crab trap/pot are generally used as fishing gears. The stock is steadily declining in volume and size as a result of the depletion of the spawning biomass. Hence, it is the aim of the FIP to rebuild the fishery to a sustainable level in the area of the Visayan Sea and nearby waters. 

The FIP works in an integrated approach through (1) collaborative work with government and NGOs, academia and other legal entities; (2) an active information and education campaign; (3) supply chain management; and (4) development of projects and policies that promote sustainability of blue swimming crabs. 

The MSC Fishery Standard is the guiding framework of the FIP. Priority projects and initiatives include assessment of stock status, stock enhancement initiatives (establishment of hatcheries and installation of holding cages for egg-bearing crabs), promotion of ecologically-sound gears, campaign awareness programs, capacity building of local communities and increasing support for the implementation of the Philippine blue swimming crab management plan of the government.

The FIP is being initiated by The Philippine Association of Crab Processors, Inc. (PACPI), a group of blue swimming crab processing and exporting companies that operate mainly within the Visayan area. The association was founded in May 2009 in an effort to foster a good relationship among the crab processing sector and to support initiatives promoting blue swimming crab sustainability in the country. At present, 4 of the 8 major companies operating in the Philippines are members of PACPI, representing ninety percent (90%) of the blue swimming crab industry, and are actively providing financial support in the implementation of blue swimming crab sustainability projects. The member companies of PACPI include:

  • Byrd International Seafoods Cebu
  • Central Seafoods, Inc.
  • Phil-Union Frozen Foods, Inc.
  • RGE Agridev Corporation
FIP Description 

The Philippines blue swimming crab is a cosmopolitan species in the coastal waters in the Philippines. This fishery is a significant sub-sector of the crustacean fishery.

FIP Objective(s) 

The general objective of the FIP is to attain sustainability for Philippine blue swimming crab compliant with the MSC Fisheries Standard by 2026. In particular, it aims to:

  • Increase data collection efforts on the stock status and impacts of the Philippine blue swimming crab fishery to the environment 
  • Promote and implement activities to help revive the stock of the Philippine blue swimming crab to a sustainable level
  • Minimize the impacts of the Philippine blue swimming crab fishery to the environment through protection of habitats and adoption of ecologically-sound gears
  • Promote and establish a multi-stakeholder approach in the implementation of management schemes
  • Perform other tasks relevant to the advancement of the Philippine blue swimming crab industry
FIP Type 
Comprehensive
FIP Stage 
Stage 4: Improvements in Fishing Practices or Fishery Management
Start and Projected End Dates
July 2015
December 2026
Update 
The FIP expected end date was moved to December 2026 to allow time to finish tasks indicated in the work plan after the pandemic. The FIP has been working on a limited budget and thus needed to prioritize tasks and activities; however, targets to implement listed tasks addressing all the PIs to improve the fishery. In the course of implementing the FIP action plan, various circumstances and interferences arose that were not anticipated during planning.
Next Progress Report Due 
Monday, June 30, 2025
Species 
Common Name 
Blue Swimming Crab
Scientific Name
Portunus pelagicus
Gear Type 
Bottom Gillnet
Pot/Trap
Location
FAO Major Fishing Area
Area 71 (Pacific, Western Central)
Exclusive Economic Zones
Country 
Philippines (the)
Geographic Scope 
Visayan Sea and neighboring waters
Country Flag of Vessel 
Philippines (the)
Landings
Estimated Total FIP Landings 
6,927 metric tons
Estimated Total Fishery Landings 
22,113 metric tons
Landings Date 
December 2023
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FIP at a Glance

View current status
July 01, 2015
82% 14% 4%
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
C Some Recent 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 2025
Target End Date
Dec 2026

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
Philippine Association of Crab Processors, Inc.
Organization Type 
Industry
Primary Contact 
Ken Choi
Email 
kenchoiph@gmail.com
Website Name 
Philippine Association of Crab Processors, Inc. (Facebook)
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.
21374