Research Proposal

Title: Investigation on Seasonal Variation of Biochemical Composition of

Crab
Introduction
Bangladesh has a 710 km long coast line along the Bay of Bengal from the mouth of the Naf
river in the southeast to the mouth of the Raimongal river in the southwest (Azam, et al., 1998)
covering the regions of greater Chittagong, Noakhali, Barisal, Patuakhali and Khulna districts.
Bestowed with huge natural resources, this coastal belt supports the livelihoods of millions
mainly through fishing related activities as well as processing and marketing of a number of
aquatic products. There are 15 species of crab available in our country, among them 4 species
inhabit freshwaters while the remaining 11 species inhabit marine waters (Ahmed, 1991). Crabs
occur abundantly in the whole coastal region of the Bangladesh particularly in the estuaries,
tidal rivers of the Sunderbans mangrove swamps and vast coastal ghers or shrimp polders (Khan
and Alam, 1991). The annual production of crab is estimated to be more than 10,000 tons (Zafar
and Siddique, 2000). Considering the increasing demand of mud crab in the local and
international markets, it has been gaining popularity among the coastal communities in greater
Khulna and Chittagong regions. The crab has a very high market value and throughout the
western world is viewed as a delicacy, largely due to its low fat, high protein, vitamin and
mineral content as well as fine taste (Baliao, 2000). The crab is also an important source of food
for coastal inhabitants in the Indo-Pacific region where it is widely distributed (Baliao, 2000).
Although biochemical analysis provides information on the nutritional value of a particular
organism used as a source of food but there is no much knowledge about the seasonal
nutritional variation of these potential and exportable crabs. Therefore, determining of the
biochemical and proximate composition, fatty acid and minerals composition of different crab
species have a great importance due to the good effect on human health. So, the present study is
designed to investigate the seasonal variation of biochemical composition related to nutritional
status (protein, amino acid, fat, carbohydrate etc.) of crab.
Aim of the present investigation
To see whether bio-chemical composition related to nutritional status of crab varies seasonally
or not?
Research Question:
Does bio-chemical composition of Crab vary seasonally?
Broad Objective:
To identify the nutrition related composition of crab and their seasonal variation
Other Objectives

To understand the seasonal nutritional characteristics of crab.

To investigate why the variation takes place in terms of nutrition.
To analyze the fatty acid composition with respect to the seasonal variation.
To investigate the seasonal variation in the amino acid profile of crab.

Research Methodology
The crab will be collected from the coastal area during the period January to December. After
acclimatization the collected crab will be dried at 60 0 C in an oven and will be used for
biochemical analysis. The protein, carbohydrate and lipid contents will be estimated by
adopting the standard methods of Raymont et al., (1964), Dubois et al. (1956) and Folch et al.
(1956) respectively. The estimation of protein content will be carried using micro Kjeldal
method, amino acid by HPLC (LCMS-2020) and fatty acid by GCMS following the method of
Baker and Han (1994). The sample will be digested using the mixture of hydrochloric acid,
nitric and perchloric acid at a ratio of 10:5:1 for the analysis of phosphorous, mineral matters
which will be analyzed by ICP-MS.

Time Frame
The crab will be collected from the coastal area during the period July/2015 to December/2015.
After acclimatization the collected crab will be dried at 600 C in an oven and will be used for
biochemical analysis. After preparing homogenous and representative sample the bio-chemical
analysis of the crab sample will be carried and after generalization and interpretation of data the
result of the analysis will be summarized as a thesis paper.

Socio-economic Importance of proposed project

Seafood products are currently in high demand as they are considered healthy and nutritional.
The crabs rank third after shrimps and lobsters for their esteemed seafood delicacy and also the
value of fishery they support. The crab harvest and culture is new alternative livelihoods and
have a great prospect in Bangladesh. The successful completion of the proposed project will
generate background knowledge on seasonal variations in biochemical composition of crabs
which might reflect the season and the type of meat suited best for the commercial processing
and also help in the assessment of nutritional quality.

Conclusion

The physical, chemical and biological parameters are also suitable for crab culture in the
southwest region of Bangladesh. As there is a potential future for crab culture so training on
mud crab biology, ecology, collection techniques and culture technologies should be provided to
the crab collectors and crab fatteners to increase production. Government should take necessary
steps to improve the infrastructures and domestic markets for mud crab in live, frozen and
cooked conditions. Besides these, micro-credit facilities should be assured at low or no interest.
A policy and strategy should be developed to improve their living condition in the southwest
region, where crab could be an alternative source of income and sustainable livelihood.

Supervisor
Md. Badrul Islam Dr. Md. Moniruzzaman Sarkar
Ph.D Fellow Associate Professor
Institute of Environmental Science Department of Zoology
University of Rajshahi-6205 University of Rajshahi-6205
E-mail: badol02@yahoo.com E-mail: sarkarphd@yahoo.com
Mobile: 01716-639255 Mobile: 01814978410

References
1. Azam, K., D. Kamal and M. Mostafa. 1998. Status and potential of mud crab (Scylla
serrata) in Bangladesh. In : Rahman, M.A. M.S Shah, M.G. Murt aza, and M.A. Matin
(eds.). Proc. Nat. Sem. Integr. Manage. Ganges Floodplains and Sundarbans Ecosystem,
July 16-18, 1994. Organized jointly by Khulna University, Bangladesh Agricultural
Research Council and Department of Agricultural Extension. Khulna University,
Bangladesh, pp. 150-160.

2. Ahmed, M. K., 1992. Mud crab - a pot ential aqua-resources of Bangladesh. In: Angell,
C.A. (ed.). Report Sem. Mud Crab Culture and Trade. Surat Thani, Thailand, Nov. 5-8,
1991. Bay of Bengal Program, Brackish Water Culture, BOBP/REP/51: 95-102.

3. Khan, M.G. and M.F. Alam. 1991. The mud crab ( Scylla serrata ) fishery and its bio-
economics in Bangladesh. BOBP/REP 51: 29-40.

4. Zafar, M. and M.Z.H. Siddiqui 2000. Occurrenc e and abundance of four Brachyuran
crabs in the Chakaria Sundarban of Bangladesh. The Chittagong Univ. Jour. Sci., 24(2):
105-110.

5. Baliao, D.D. (2000) Mud crab culture in Encyclopedia of aquaculture (Stickney, R.R.,
ed), John Willy & Sons, New York, pp548-552.
SEAFDEC,1998.Newsletter Vol. 21, No. 1, January to March.
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6. Raymont, J.E.G., A.Austine and E. Lingford, 1964. Biochemical studies on marine

zooplankton. The biochemical composition of Neonysis integer. J. Cons. Int. Explor.
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7. Dubois, M., K.A. Gilles, J.K. Hamilton, P.A. Rebers and F. Smith, 1956. Calorimetric
method for determination of sugars and related substances. Anal. Chem., 28: 350-356.

8. Folch, J.M., Lees and H.S. Stanly, 1956. Asimple method the isolation and
quantification of lipids from animal tissuses. J. Biol.Chem.,226:497-509.

9. Baker, D.H. and Y. Han, 1994. Ideal amino acid profile for chicks during the first three
weeks of posthatching. Poult. Sci., 73:1441-1447.