Crab entrepreneurs in Labutta Township have called on the government to lift a ban on crab fishing in March as China has suspended crab imports from Myanmar for nearly two years due to the outbreak of COVID-19. 

Crab is one of Labutta’s major exports to China. Due to the suspension of crab exports, all people working in the crab industry are out of work. 

The government always places a one-month ban on crab fishing in March every year. 

They called for the removal of ban in March in order that they can resume their works if the Chinese market reopens. 

U Win Naing, Chair of Labutta Crab Entrepreneurs Association: “ We send letters to the Fishery Department, MPs and General Administration Department. Now we can sell crabs only at local markets. Workers from the crab industry are working in the road construction in Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw and salt fields. The crab buying centers will have to find new workers as they are unable to come back to Labutta.”