Mud Crab genus Scylla Broodstock Culture: Current Challenges and the Potential of a Hybrid Specific Pathogen Free Approach

Mud crab (genus Scylla) farming forms an integral part of coastal aquaculture in Asia region, with their cultivation supporting coastal livelihoods, driving economic growth through their high market demand and promoting mangrove forest conservation and environmental sustainability via mangrove ecosystem integration. However, instability in the production chain, especially the early stages from broodstock cultivation to larval rearing and crablet, promoted the continued reliance on wild-caught broodstock. Such reliance on wild-caught broodstock introduces significant biosecurity risks, particularly through pathogen transmission and inconsistent reproductive performance. Current management selects mature females based on size and ovarian development, followed by acclimation and prophylactic formalin baths to mitigate bacterial and fungal infections. This review examines the biosecurity risks of relying on wild broodstock and proposes a practical “hybrid” approach that combines the innate immune resilience of wild populations with Specific Pathogen Free (SPF)-like conditions to enhance disease resistance, reproductive success and overall production sustainability. Nutritional strategies employ high-protein feeds, such as fish and bivalves, to enhance ovarian maturation, but untreated wild-caught feeds heighten pathogen transmission risks. By quarantine, disinfection and microbiome management protocol, pathogen load can be reduced while innate immunity can be improved.