Crabs Return to Markets

Two-month seasonal ban ends as authorities reopen crab fishing and sales

Crabs have returned to markets across Bahrain after the end of a two-month seasonal fishing ban aimed at protecting marine stocks, authorities and vendors said.

The Supreme Council for the Environment (SCE) lifted the annual ban on crabs in Bahrain’s territorial waters, effective Saturday, May 16, 2026, following a closure that began on March 15.

At Manama’s Central Market, traders said demand quickly picked up as supplies resumed.

“Crabs have returned to the market, and so has their demand,” said Shankar, a local vendor at the Central Market in Manama. Prices currently range between 800 fils and 1.500 dinars per kilogram, depending on variety and availability.

Female yellow-spotted crabs, prized in local markets for their softer and richer meat, are selling at slightly higher prices than male blue crabs, with a difference of around 100 to 200 fils due to seasonal supply patterns.

The General Administration of Marine Resources said the annual ban on fishing, trading and sale of crabs is part of Bahrain’s broader efforts to protect marine resources and ensure long-term sustainability in its waters.

Officials said the restrictions are designed to safeguard breeding and reproduction cycles, helping maintain healthier marine populations and improving stock availability during the fishing season.