Effects of Seed Transfer Distance on Production Success of Mud Crab (Scylla serrata) in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems

Abstract

Mud crab (Scylla serrata) culture using recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) with vertical crab boxes offers a sustainable model for urban aquaculture, particularly in land-limited coastal cities such as Jakarta, Indonesia. However, the dependence on wild-caught seeds from surrounding mangrove areas raises production costs and may affect seed quality due to variations in transport distance and handling. This research evaluated the production and economic performance of mud crab culture in RAS vertical boxes using seeds sourced from three coastal regions: Tangerang, Bekasi, and Subang, which represent different transfer distances. Ninety crabs (60–120 g/crab) were individually reared for 30 days following a completely randomized design with three treatments and three replications. Growth parameters (survival rate, daily growth rate, molting percentage, and feed conversion ratio) and profitability indicators (cost of goods sold, revenue cost ratio, and payback period) were analyzed. Production performance did not differ significantly among seed sources (p > 0.05), with survival rates ranging from 50–73% and daily growth rates from 0.60–0.69 g/day. Nevertheless, profitability varied markedly: culture using Tangerang-sourced seeds achieved the highest economic return (profit = USD 153.4/year; R/C = 1.3; payback period = 6.8 years), while Subang-sourced seeds resulted in financial loss, primarily due to prolonged transport and lower seed vitality. Seed source influenced economic outcomes but not biological productivity. Shorter transfer distances and improved seed handling practices enhance profitability. Developing hatchery-based seed production is essential to strengthening the sustainability of urban mud crab aquaculture.

Keywords

• RAS
• Scylla serrata
• Seed source
• Urban aquaculture
• Vertical crab box

References

1. Agustiyana, C., Hadiroseyani, Y., Diatin, I., & Effendi, I. (2024). Optimization of the production of soft shell crab (Scylla sp.) cultivation using the apartment system. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research, 50(4), 552–557. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejar.2024.05.003 google scholar
2. Asy’ari, R., Rahmawati, A. D., Dzulfigar, A., Marfi, K. P., Aulia, U., Puspitasari, R. F., Raihan, F., Aslam, M. F., Saputri, H. R., Madinu, A. M. A., Jouhary, N. A., Hidayat, M. A. D., Fadhil, M. H., Nurrahmah, A. C., Inanda, I. A., Zamani, N. P., Pramulya, R., & Setiawan, Y. (2023). Mangrove damage vs succession: An opinion on the journey of mangrove investigation studies in Subang Regency coast area. SSRS Journal A: Agro-Environmental Research, 1, 1–6. Retrieved from https://publishing.ssrs.or.id/ojs/index.php/ssrs-a/article/view/11 google scholar
3. FAO. (2023). The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2023: Towards Blue Transformation. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome. google scholar
4. Haryanti, R., Fahrudin, A., & Susanto, H. A. (2020). Analysis degradation of mangrove vegetation in Tangerang District, Banten Province. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 441(1), 012109. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/441/1/012109 google scholar
5. Hayati, M. A., Effendi, I., Hadiroseyani, Y., & Budiardi, T. (2025). Performance of mud crab farming in natural seed-based apartment systems with various pre-transportation holding durations. Jurnal Akuakultur Indonesia, 24(1), 32–42. https://doi.org/10.19027/jai.24.1.32-42 google scholar
6. Lahiri, T., Nazrul, K. S., Rahman, M. A., Saha, D., Egna, H., Wahab, M. A., & Mamun, A. A. (2021). Boom and bust: Soft‐shell mud crab farming in south‐east coastal Bangladesh. Aquaculture Research, 52(10), 5056–5068. https://doi.org/10.1111/are.15377 google scholar
7. Limbong, M. (2020). Performance of capture fisheries in Tangerang District waters. Jurnal Penelitian Perikanan Indonesia, 26(4), 201–210. http://dx.doi.org/10.15578/jppi.26.4.2020.201-210 google scholar
8. Marlianingrum, P. R., Adrianto, L., Kusumastanto, & T., Fahrudin, A. (2021). Sistem sosial-ekologi mangrove di Kabupaten Tangerang. Jurnal Ekobis: Ekonomi Bisnis & Manajemen, 11(2), 351– 364. https://doi.org/10.37932/j.e.v11i2.386 (In Indonesian) google scholar

9. MMAF. (2022). Indonesian Aquaculture Statistics 2022. Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), Jakarta. google scholar
10. Nufus, S. (2025). Dampak pembangunan PIK 2 terhadap pelanggaran hak ekonomi sosial dan budaya masyarakat lokal. Doktrin: Jurnal Dunia Ilmu Hukum dan Politik, 3(1), 229–236. https://doi.org/10.59581/doktrin.v3i1.4757 (in Indonesian) google scholar
11. Nugraha, R. B., Syaharani, L., Iska, R., Mulyana, D., Wahyudin, Y., Purbani, D., Jayawiguna, H., Setiawan, A., & Fajar, P. (2019). The impact of land used changes on mangrove forest and shoreline dynamic in Muara Gembong, Bekasi, West Java. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 241(1), 012018. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/241/1/012018 google scholar
12. Paran, B. C., Jeyagobi, B., Kizhakedath, V. K., Antony, J., Francis, B., Anand, P. S., Radhakrishnapillai, A., Lalramchhani, C., Kannappan, S., Marimuthu, R. D., & Paulpandi, S. (2022). Production of juvenile mud crabs, Scylla serrata: captive breeding, larviculture and nursery production. Aquaculture reports, 22, 101003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aqrep.2021.101003 google scholar
13. Rai, N., & Thapa, B. (2015). A study on purposive sampling method in research. Kathmandu: Kathmandu School of Law, 5(1), 8–15. google scholar
14. Rangka, N. A. (2007). Status usaha kepiting bakau ditinjau dari aspek peluang ve prospeknya. Jurnal Neptunus, 14(1), 90‒100. (in Indonesian) google scholar
15. Shelley, C., & Lovatelli, A. (2011). Mud crab aquaculture–A practical manual. FAO Fisheries and aquaculture technical paper No. 567. Rome. google scholar
16. Suryadi, T., Yulianda, F. & Susanto, H. A. (2021). Analisis kesesuaian kawasan konservasi mangrove di Muara Gembong, Kabupaten Bekasi Provinsi Jawa BaratMangrove conservation land suitability analysis in Muara Gembong, Bekasi District, West Java Province. Enviro Scienteae, 17(3), 11–24. https://doi.org/10.20527/es.v17i3.11635 google scholar
17. Usman, Z., Alauddin, M. H, Syahrir, M., Leilani, A., Saridu, S. A., Wahid, E., Renitasari, D. P., Rasnijal, M., Hardianto, T., Regan, Y., & Kurniaji, A. (2024). Mud crabs (Scylla olivacea) fattening in recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) using vertical gallons crab house with different feed types. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1410(1), 012020. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1410/1/012020 google scholar
18. Waiho, K., Ikhwanuddin, M., Baylon, J. C., Jalilah, M., Rukminasari, N., Fujaya, Y., & Fazhan, H. (2021). Moult induction methods in soft‐shell crab production. Aquaculture Research, 52(9), 4026‒4042. https://doi.org/10.1111/are.15274 google scholar