The Sundarbans are the largest mangrove forest of the world and play a crucial role in global biodiversity conservation, as well as coastal protection and livelihood generation for the region. Mud crab collection is an important livelihood activity of people near the Sundarbans. However, excessive crab collection from the wild is posing a risk to the ecosystem and to people depending on this resource for their livelihood.
In order to conserve biodiversity and to make the mud crab business more sustainable, the “Management of the Sundarbans Mangrove Forests for Biodiversity Conservation and Increased Adaptation to Climate Change Project (SMP)” commissioned by BMZ, supports the Bangladesh Forest Department with technical expertise on mud crab hatcheries. Through providing additional seed stock, pressure on crab populations in the Sundarbans can be reduced and alternative employment opportunities for the coastal community can be promoted.
