Africa could become unlikely next frontier in crab sourcing for US market

The stark population decline of the U.S. crab resource could be an opportunity to develop the species in the untapped African market.

U.S. President Joe Biden recently hosted the U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit, which some in the seafood industry saw as a conducive forum for U.S.-based seafood companies to present a case in favor of investing in Africa’s crab industry to plug the gap created by falling outputs in the U.S.

SeafoodSource talked with Amir Ben Ameur, the director of international operations at U.S.-based Carthage Crabs, which in September 2020 struck a partnership deal with Azzure Mar Seafood Products, another U.S. seafood firm, to promote African crab in the North American market.

SeafoodSource: What are some of the factors driving the global crab market growth, including that in Africa?

Ameur: Supply chain bottlenecks and Covid-outbreak explosive demand drove more companies to look for new and alternative sources of crab, usually sourced from Asia …

Photo courtesy of Carthage Crabs