Atuka women harvest crabs and protect mangrove forests
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Women from Atuka village, in Central Papua, Indonesia, gather mud crabs in the mangrove forests to feed their families and earn income.
Paulina, Balbina, Oda, and Karolina travel by boat to search for crab burrows among the mangrove roots, using tools to carefully extract the crabs without damaging them. The women collect other shellfish and mangrove fruits alongside the crabs, relying on the forest for daily sustenance.
The amount the women collect varies depending on the tide, sometimes yielding only a few crabs but occasionally up to 20. Balbina reported earning up to 500,000 Indonesian Rupiah from a single sale, money she uses for school fees and household needs. However, the women often lack information about market prices and may be required to sell all their crabs to fuel suppliers who cover their boat expenses.
Even when boats aren’t available, the women walk the shore to continue harvesting. Mud crabs are the largest export commodity from Central Papua, with 661.8 tons shipped between January and June 2026.
