An Economic Analysis of Chinese mitten crab (Erioceir sinensis) culture in Taiwan

• Main Authors: Bi-Jung Wu, 吳璧鍾
• Other Authors: Dr. Sha Miao
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/37927573518707745360

碩士 === 國立臺灣海洋大學 === 水產養殖學系 === 99 === Eriocheir sinensis, also called Chinese mitten crab, is a potentially developing species of aquaculture. Since relatively short evolutionary history, current farming and future development are not clearly defined, therefore, in order to understand the present situation in Taiwan and evaluate the feasibility on Chinese mitten crab production, the objective of this study is to investigate the economic benefit and biological effect on farmers of Chinese mitten crab. The key factors of affecting productive benefits can be determined by collecting related-production cost, revenue and biological information of aquaculture species. Furthermore, SWOT analysis is used for understanding the strength, weakness, opportunity and threat of current production of Chinese mitten crab. Finally, by integration of the results of economic production analyses we can give an advice for future development. As a result, for Chinese mitten crab culture, northern Taiwan has higher selling price, which can compensate the weakness of high cost. On the other hand, the high stocking density that causes relatively low survival rate in eastern Taiwan should be improved moderately. In middle Taiwan, the larger specification of goods can be observed because of large stocking area and low stocking density. However, poor survival rate causes unsatisfactory profitability. In addition, southern Taiwan shows best survival rate, excellent environment of aquaculture and having the required condition of production, which reveals best profit in whole operation. Generally speaking, the most expensive cost of Chinese mitten crab farming is personal costs, whereas second expensive cost is offspring. Remarkably, the overall survival rate and profitability are poor. The operative benefits between farmers have extremely significant difference. In conclusion, the development of Chinese mitten crab production is limited by (1) low survival rate; (2) small specification of goods; (3) incomplete marketing channel; (4) the good and the bad of offspring are intermingled. It is critical to improve the poor culture profit by controlling the quality of offspring. By breeding healthy offspring of crab or control the flooding of crab offspring suppliers, the huge difference of offspring quality can be avoided efficiently. Moreover, it is useful for integration and planning of sales channel by the technological upgrade of aquaculture, improvement of production efficiency, increase of production and establishment of regional production-sale groups.