The Krishna district authorities have geared up to promote cultivation of mangrove crab (Sylla seretta) along the coastal belt on the lines of the Sundarban mangrove cover that lies on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers on the Bay of Bengal. The attempts by the Krishna district aqua farmers in rearing the mangrove crab in the brackish water ponds and crab fattening experiments by the Chennai-based Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) have drawn the attention of the State government to tap the demand for the crab both in domestic and international markets. Naturally, the mangrove crab is being collected from the mangrove forest by the Yanadi tribals, who sell it to the local aqua farmers as well as middlemen engaged in export of the crab to South East Asian countries. In any season, a kilogram of mangrove crab fetches not less than ?1,000. Presently, a few Yanadi tribal families have been encouraged by the CIBA to adopt crab fattening technology, through which the crabs are reared until sufficient growth is recorded to sell them in the market. Tempted by the returns, several aqua farmers have attempted cultivation of the mangrove crab and found it successful, given the suitable soil and water conditions. On Tuesday, a team of officials led by Krishna District Collector B. Lakshmikantam inspected a few mangrove crab ponds, where local farmers explained the cultivation methods, production, market sources at Kammanamolu village of Nagayalanka mandal in Krishna district. Sylla Seretta cultivation is viable and has potential to increase production as well exports. The crab species contains high protein value. A team of 35 personnel of the Fisheries Department will be trained in the mangrove crab cultivation , Mr. Lakshmikantam said. The Collector has directed to the fisheries authorities to prepare a proposal to set up hatchery where nursery-reared mangrove crab would be supplied to the interested farmers in future. The local communities in the Sundarban Mangrove forest and forest areas in Odisha have already tapped demand for cultivation of mangrove crab and other crab species and Andhra Pradesh is lagging behind in this regard, Mr. Lakshmikantam said. Sanctuary road The Collector on Tuesday told newsmen that forest clearance would be sought to lay road between Sangameswaram village and Hamsaladeevi beach that falls in the Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary during a meeting with the locals on Tuesday.