The Chinese river crab (Eriocheir sinensis), also referred to as the Chinese mitten crab, is named so due to its furry claws, which are said resemble mittens. The species is considered relatively new to the aquaculture industry, having only being produced for aquaculture purposes since 1989. As well as China, this crustacean can also be found in temperate waters along Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Eastern Russia.
Much commercial production of Chinese river crabs is carried out in China. This crustacean is typically marketed live, although in recent years processed products have entered the market. Exports are primarily focused within Japan, Hong Kong and Korea. Market rates suggest Chinese river crab is gaining more international attention, as export numbers increased by 70 percent in 2004, compared to the previous year. These rates have continued to increase year-on-year as the Western market establishes itself.
One of the issues most prevalent in Chinese river crab production is the myriad of diseases they can become subject to. Particular diseases to be wary of include Shiver disease, Shell ulcer disease and Sacculina disease, all of which can be caused by a variety of factors such as parasites, viruses and bacteria. Treating these diseases can be very complicated, whilst some diseases (such as Shiver disease) currently have no known cure, so ensuring farm hygiene conditions are optimised is crucial.
In 1995, 41,516 tonnes (t) of Chinese river crabs were farmed for aquaculture purposes. In 2005 this number increased to 378,376t and again to 812,183t in 2016.
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