News: Koh Kong mud crab to be registered as Cambodia’s GI product in the near future

The Ministry of Commerce’s Department of Intellectual Property (IP), in collaboration with experts from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), has conducted three research studies on the Koh Kong mud crab.

A man proudly holds a mud crab at Koh Kong province. This is part of Koh Kong Mangrove Mud Crab Development project, funded by People in Need and implemented since June 2017

These studies, conducted as part of the Post-Covid programme, have culminated in the preparation of a report which will recommend the registration of the crab as a geographical indication (GI) product in Cambodia.

In a meeting held on 16 July with Ms Wang Binying, Deputy Director General of WIPO, on the sidelines of the 65th WIPO General Assembly, held from 9 to 17 July in Geneva, Switzerland, H.E. Ouk Prachea, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Commerce, urged WIPO to continue this work.

Additionally, he proposed that WIPO establish a collective mark and certification mark for Cambodian milled rice products.

Illustration Khang Fishing

H.E. Ouk Prachea took the opportunity to recall the positive collaboration between Cambodia and WIPO thus far. He expressed gratitude to WIPO for its technical assistance in the formulation of legislation and the development of the IP system in Cambodia, as well as for providing the Industrial Property Administration System (IPAS) in the country.

In response, Ms. Wang Binying acknowledged Cambodia’s request and committed to dispatching her specialists to engage in discussions with the Ministry of Commerce’s Department of IP at a future date.

Two distinct species of mud crab are recognised: Scylla olivacea, commonly known as the black mud crab, and Scylla paramamosain, the white mud crab. With regard to the swimming crabs, the male crab, also designated the blue crab, exhibits a vibrant blue hue with a multitude of white markings distributed across its body, legs, and claws. The female exhibits a duller greenish-brown coloration. It is larger than the mud crab, with a carapace that can expand to a width of 30 cm. The price varies according to size, with smaller specimens costing approximately $6 per kilogram and larger ones approximately $9 per kilogram.

The sweet, soft meat and delicate flesh of this crab are renowned, while the mud crab is celebrated for its richer, brinier flavour. Both crabs can be prepared in a variety of ways, including stir-frying, steaming, and baking.

To date, Cambodia has registered the following GI: Kampot pepper, Kampong Speu palm sugar, Mondulkiri wild honey, Koh Trong pomelo, Kampot/Kep salt and salt flower, Takeo lobster, and Kampot/Kep fish source.