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Assessment of crab trap
selectivity and efficiency in a tropical riparian swamp
Babatunde Eniola Emmanuel
Department
of Marine Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos,
Akoka, Nigeria. E-mail:
monetemi@yahoo.com. Tel: 234 – 802-853-9459
Accepted 23
July, 2009 |
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The efficiency of the can trap for the collection of
Cardiosoma armatum was examined for 2 year (2003 -
2005). The trap was designed with popular Nigeria beverages.
The circumferences of the traps determined the size of
individual crabs to be caught. The cans circumference ranged
between 30.45 and 40.23 cm. The trap operated on trigger
mechanism. It was baited with orange peels, onion bulb and
fish trash. The trap reduces stress of land crabbing, made
the operation easy and less strenuous. The highest catch
(500 crabs at 58.14%) of crabs was recorded for can trap
followed by the hand picking (300 crabs at 34.8%) and the
least was recorded for barricading of crab holes with nets
method (60 crabs at 6.98%). The bigger the crabs, the higher
the market values. Can trap is effective for the operation
and a means of livelihood for the youth around the study
area.
Key
words:
Can trap, Cardiosoma armatum, crabbing, hand -
picking. |
