In
November 2002, J. W. Aquaculture (Research) Ltd. was awarded funding from the European Union under its Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG), part of the Objective 1 programme, whose aims include “Helping achieve a sustainable balance between marine resources and their exploitation.” The stated aim of the project is to create an innovative pilot plant, seeking to develop the technology, processes, plant and equipment necessary to enable the commercial farming of European shore crabs on shore in holding tanks. After a site in Swansea Docks was secured and planning permission, abstraction and discharge licences obtained, the project got underway in December 2002, with construction starting the following March.  This
project is unique, as the European Shore Crab (Carcinus maenas), has
never before been cultured on an industrial scale. Previous breeding
programmes have been limited to
small-scale study in research establishments and Universities. With
the demand for peeler crabs, for the sea angling market, steadily
growing, as it is the preferred bait, by most anglers and the increased
damage being done to the environment by its collection, the European
Union recognised that bait farming represented a sustainable approach
to this issue. |
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