Priya Manhas
It is an established fact that the world population is swelling at an alarming rate year after year. According to the United Nations Population Division, the world population is projected to reach 7 billion early in 2012, up from current 6.8 billion, and exceed 9 billion by 2050. Most of the growth will occur in developing countries, where the population is projected to increase from 5.6 billion in 2009 to 7.9 billion by 2050, over half of the population is believed to suffer from malnutrition. The food from land is so limited that it may not be able to satisfy even the basic requirements of ever increasing population. One of the alternatives to overcome this problem of food shortage is to tap the vast resources of the ocean and freshwater bodies which could nourish the human population.
Further with the growth of human population, the demand for protein rich food is increasing day by day especially in developing countries. This demand has stimulated the exploration of under-utilised or non-traditional resources among which fin fishes occupy an important place in human diet followed by crustaceans and molluscs. Among crustaceans, besides prawn and lobsters, crabs are highly valuable and form about 45% in terms of volume and 75% in terms of value. Crabs, among many other invertebrates, are considered to be important shell fishery products.
True crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting tail (Greek: Brachys = short, oura = tail), or where the reduced abdomen is entirely hidden under the thorax.
Though the importance of crabs as a source of protein rich food for the growing population of India especially in the coastal sector, and also as an excellent raw for seafood products for export purpose is increasingly recognized in the country in the recent years. But the limited utilization of shellfishes (crab) in our state is due to conservative food habits and lack of knowledge about the nutritive value of crabs.
Paratelphusa masoniana, a local freshwater crab of Jammu region, has been identified as a virgin species so far as the scientific knowledge on this species is concerned. Barring a few reports, the species has remained unexplored especially with regard to its nutritional and culture perspectives.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that it has high protein content of about 59.52%and lipid content of about 5.17% which is at par with other marine decapods. Preliminary investigation have revealed that it is a biannual breeder i.e., it spawns twice in a year. The maximum weight recorded in the present species is 85gms.
It could be safely presumed that P. masoniana is a good source of protein and recommended as an ideal food item. The State of Jammu and Kashmir being a destination of international tourists could offer a healthy market for shellfishery products (especially crabs). The culture of P.masoniana will meet the demand of the heavy tourist inflow coming from south of country. This would therefore definitely add to the economy of our State.
Presently research is being carried out in the Department of Zoology, University of Jammu, under the esteemed supervision of Prof. Seema Langer, to further investigate its other nutritional and clinical significance so that it may help to generate data for further research studies.
(The author is Research Scholar, Department of Zoology University of Jammu).
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