What Is The Economic Importance Of Crustaceans?

Crustaceans are of considerable economic importance to man. The group is of great value directly or indirectly for his health and economic progress.

As food:
Man, consumes a large number of crustaceans especially the lobsters, shrimps, prawns, crabs and crayfishes etc. They form an important diet for man with great nutritive value. The blue crab is held captive until it molts, then sold in the soft-shelled condition, after removal of the viscera the whole animal is cooked and eaten. Prawn fishery, which means capturing as well as culturing them, has advanced in many countries including Pakistan.

Ecosystem food chain Component
The smaller species of crustaceans form the bulk of the zooplankton, which plays a vital role in the food chains of both salt and freshwater fishes and other aquatic animals that eventually come to our table.

As Fish bait
In most parts of America, the crayfishes, especially the soft-shelled individuals, are quite popular among fisherman as fish bait. Soft-shelled individuals are kept soft for a week so on ice since refrigeration slows metabolism so that the shell develop slowly.

As scavenger
Some, crustacean, such a crayfish are beneficial, as they serve as an agency in the destruction of decaying vegetables and animal bodies in water.