Chiang Mai – Fishermen in cyclone-hit Labutta are catching more crabs these days but the price is on the decline.

The number of fishermen operating in this region after the cyclone has decreased. So, fishermen are netting more crabs. However, sales have declined in the main export market on the China border. The price too has registered a downward trend.

"We are netting more crabs these days because fewer fishermen are operating. The fishermen who used to get 1 viss (about 1.5 Kg) are now getting 1.5 viss, "a person who studied the situation said.

Wholesalers in Labutta bought crabs for over Khat 2,000 per viss from the fishermen before the cyclone, but now it is Kyat 1,300 per viss.

"We once got a windfall price of over Kyat 2,000-3,000 per viss in our villages before the cyclone. Now the price has declined to Kyat 1,300 per viss. They said that the buyers in Muse (China border) are offering lower prices," he said.

The wholesale merchants at 105-mile border trade zone used to earn USD 2,100-2,400 per ton from sale of crabs in the China market before the cyclone, but now the price stands at USD 1,410 per ton.

A crab wholesaler in Labutta told Mizzima, "The wholesale merchants on the border fixed a lower price in Myawaddy, Maesod and Maetaw. The brokers  helped lower the price. The situation is the same on the Sino-Burma border too."

"There are two main categories of crabs -- male and female. The price depends on the size. Crabs weighing over 150 grammes can fetch a good price on the Chinese and Thai border," he added.