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Open wide, it's crab time
(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2004-09-22 09:50  Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs will hit local market this week. Prices are
expected to be a little higher compared to last year.
The crabs - known
for a deep blue shell, white navel and golden hair - are reputed to have the
best taste among all varieties of hairy crabs.
To keep its reputation,
the Yangcheng Lake Crab Trade Association reduced the breeding area from 7,333
hectares to 3,000 hectares this year. This can stop water pollution caused by
over cultivation, therefore, improving crab quality, association officials
said.
"Crab farmers adopted more scientific ways of breeding this year,"
said Yang Weilong, director of the association. "They grew waterweeds to clean
the water and raised river snails, whose eggs are the preferred food of hairy
crabs."
The output of Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs is expected to reach
1,000 tons this year. About 200 tons will be reserved for the local
market.
The purchase price at Yangcheng Lake was 224 yuan (US$27) per
kilogram for male crabs weighing 200 grams or female crabs weighing 150 grams -
14 yuan higher than last year.
Wu Shujuan, market manager of an aquatic
company involved in the crab business, said the price hike was
necessary.
"Feed costs increased this year and we are using better feed
that will not harm anyone's health," Wu said.
Most of the Yangcheng Lake
hairy crabs will be available in hotels and restaurants. Only a small number
will be sold at wholesale markets. In the past, consumers have been duped by
vendors claiming they stock authentic Yangcheng crabs, but in fact the
crustaceans were from other lakes.
To fight fake Yangcheng Lake crabs,
the association said each real crab has an anti-counterfeiting ring. The ring
carries an 18-digit number and the company's name.
But fishery experts doubt
the effectiveness of the plan.
"Counterfeiters are so talented they can
make any fakes no matter how difficult it is. Crab sellers can also put real
rings on fake crabs," said Gao Xuexiang, an official of the Shanghai Fishery
Office. "Even fishery specialists can hardly distinguish real Yangcheng Lake
hairy crabs from fake ones."
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