73
When taken out of the water, the crabs struggle for a few minutes and then
become ineffective. The fishermen bind them or limit their claws. Unrestricted crabs
are usually stored in plastic baskets. With this application, the crabs are taken alive
to the shore. Undamaged crabs may be kept in a moistly, shady, or dark place and
can be kept for hours without dying unless they are exposed to direct sunlight or
heat. Crabs should not be unnecessarily disturbed or handled, and it is also important to avoid shocks such as dropping or hitting a crab holding container. Keeping
the crabs cool from the moment they reach the boat will have a significant impact
on the stress of keeping them the outside of the water. The deck is warmer than the
water where crabs live. Keeping crabs relatively cool reduces oxygen requirements
and allows a limited amount of oxygen to remain calm. Instead of keeping crabs in
a cold room, cold sea water can also be sprayed on the crabs. To reduce the stress of
crabs out of water, it is possible to use low temperature and water sprays only in
large boats. Small speedboats running close to the shore can keep crabs away from
water with minimal intervention to reduce stress (Paterson and Goodrick 1994). In
a study, crabs were stored using three different methods (in air, in cold air (20 °C)
and in an aerated flow-through seawater tank). Although it was expected that the
crabs would be better kept in water than in the air, this was not the case. The best
survival rate was found in crabs that were stored in cold air instead of crabs that
were constantly stored in the renewed sea water tank (Paterson et al. 1994).
Algae are also used as packaging material in some parts of the world to keep the
crabs alive. Algae allow the crabs to be kept moist. In India, crabs are reported to be
brought to the market in baskets containing algae. However, it is also stated that this
method carries the risk of algae deterioration in the case of long-term transport and
the overlap of the baskets. On the other hand, some materials such as sea watersoaked cotton and sea-water-soaked wood were used for the live transport of crabs.
These materials increase the lifetime by keeping the crabs moist. Under these conditions, the crabs have been reported to remain alive with wet cotton for 17–18 days
and with wet wood for 7 days (Mohamed and Devaraj 1997).
2.2.4.2 Preliminary Processing
Sorting
Sorting process is carried out to separate the crabs which are to be kept and those
are to be discarded. Diseased and weak ones should be extracted. Because they die
in a short time and they start to deteriorate. If they are kept in separate places, it will
be easier to separate the sick and dead ones. Those who recent moulted crabs should
be removed from the storage medium. Because, they can be cannibalised by other
hard-shelled ones. This will result in the loss of legs and antennas and will cause
their values to fall even if they are alive (Jacklin and Combes 2007a).
2.2 Crabs
When taken out of the water, the crabs struggle for a few minutes and then
become ineffective. The fishermen bind them or limit their claws. Unrestricted crabs
are usually stored in plastic baskets. With this application, the crabs are taken alive
to the shore. Undamaged crabs may be kept in a moistly, shady, or dark place and
can be kept for hours without dying unless they are exposed to direct sunlight or
heat. Crabs should not be unnecessarily disturbed or handled, and it is also important to avoid shocks such as dropping or hitting a crab holding container. Keeping
the crabs cool from the moment they reach the boat will have a significant impact
on the stress of keeping them the outside of the water. The deck is warmer than the
water where crabs live. Keeping crabs relatively cool reduces oxygen requirements
and allows a limited amount of oxygen to remain calm. Instead of keeping crabs in
a cold room, cold sea water can also be sprayed on the crabs. To reduce the stress of
crabs out of water, it is possible to use low temperature and water sprays only in
large boats. Small speedboats running close to the shore can keep crabs away from
water with minimal intervention to reduce stress (Paterson and Goodrick 1994). In
a study, crabs were stored using three different methods (in air, in cold air (20 °C)
and in an aerated flow-through seawater tank). Although it was expected that the
crabs would be better kept in water than in the air, this was not the case. The best
survival rate was found in crabs that were stored in cold air instead of crabs that
were constantly stored in the renewed sea water tank (Paterson et al. 1994).
Algae are also used as packaging material in some parts of the world to keep the
crabs alive. Algae allow the crabs to be kept moist. In India, crabs are reported to be
brought to the market in baskets containing algae. However, it is also stated that this
method carries the risk of algae deterioration in the case of long-term transport and
the overlap of the baskets. On the other hand, some materials such as sea watersoaked cotton and sea-water-soaked wood were used for the live transport of crabs.
These materials increase the lifetime by keeping the crabs moist. Under these conditions, the crabs have been reported to remain alive with wet cotton for 17–18 days
and with wet wood for 7 days (Mohamed and Devaraj 1997).
2.2.4.2 Preliminary Processing
Sorting
Sorting process is carried out to separate the crabs which are to be kept and those
are to be discarded. Diseased and weak ones should be extracted. Because they die
in a short time and they start to deteriorate. If they are kept in separate places, it will
be easier to separate the sick and dead ones. Those who recent moulted crabs should
be removed from the storage medium. Because, they can be cannibalised by other
hard-shelled ones. This will result in the loss of legs and antennas and will cause
their values to fall even if they are alive (Jacklin and Combes 2007a).
2.2 Crabs