Mean Crab

Indonesian blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus) is one of the country’s most important marine resources, supporting an estimated 90,000 fishermen and contributing to the welfare of an estimated 185,000 women nationwide. International consumer demand for sustainable seafood from Indonesia, especially crab meat, is supporting conservation efforts and providing livelihood opportunities for local communities.

Indonesia’s fishing and processing industry is growing rapidly to meet the global demand for seafood products such as the blue swimming crab. Together with the government and various NGOs, the Indonesian Blue Swimming Crab Association is campaigning for sustainable management and harvesting through community-led fisheries.

Export Destination

Blue swimming crab is Indonesia’s third largest fishery product in terms of revenue from exports, behind shrimp and tuna. In 2019, the total export volume of Indonesian blue swimming crab reached 12,749 tons, worth an estimated US$259 million.

The biggest market for these exports is the USA, which imports 85% of Indonesia’s blue swimming crab stock. European nations like France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Belgium consume around 8% of crab exported from Indonesia, while the remaining 7% is accounted for by various other countries worldwide.