SIZE OF MATURITY OF MUD CRAB Scylla olivacea (Herbst, 1796) FROM MANGROVE AREAS OF TERENGGANU COASTAL WATERS

This study was conducted to determine the size of maturity (CW50) of mud crab, Scylla olivacea (Herbst, 1796) from Setiu Wetlands, the mangrove area of Terengganu coastal waters. A total of 400 crabs were randomly collected from August 2008 to February 2009 in order to determine the size at maturity (CW50). Size at maturity (CW50) recorded in this study was 9.06 cm CW for female crab and 8.97 cm CW for male crab. To ensure appropriate exploitation of S. olivacea in future, the study proposes to adopt Legal Minimum Carapace Width at 8.97 cm CW for both S. olivacea males and females.