BY JOSES SAREN
Less than one in every thousand coconut crabs survive to settle on shore and enter a shell, a survival rate the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) says makes the species highly vulnerable to overharvesting during its breeding season.
According to MFMR, coconut crab, known locally as ‘kasusu’, is both a delicacy and an important source of income for many communities in Solomon Islands.
The crab reaches reproductive age at around five years and can live for more than 30 years, but its slow survival rate leaves populations exposed to unsustainable harvesting.
The statement said female coconut crabs carry their eggs for an extended period during spawning and breeding season, which coincides with peak harvesting time.
Harvesting during this window not only reduces coconut crab numbers but can lead to low catches and, ultimately, extinction, MFMR said.
As the crabs move inland, they shed their hard shells, and it takes about 30 days for a new shell to harden. During this vulnerable period, they are more easily caught by predators and people.
To protect the species, a seasonal ban is enforced every year from June 1 to October 31 under the Fisheries Management (Prohibited Activities) Regulations 2018.
During this period, no person is allowed to retain, possess, sell or buy coconut crab. Anyone found breaching the rule faces a fine of up to $40,000, four months imprisonment, or both.
Outside the ban period, coconut crab caught for sale must still meet a minimum legal size of 9cm, under MFMR’s Solwata Blo Iumi size guidelines, developed with support from the European Union, the Government of Sweden and the New Zealand Aid Programme, in partnership with the Pacific Community and Change.
MFMR said it remains committed to protect kasusu populations and encourages voluntary compliance from all Solomon Islanders during the closed season. The public can report breaches or seek more information from the Ministry’s office in Honiara or the nearest Fisheries Centre, by phone on 39143 or 39151, by email at [email protected], or by tuning into SIBC Radio every Wednesday night at 8.30pm.
Photo credit: MFMR
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