Progett Qabru.
Proġett Qabru is a collaboration between Nature Trust- FEE (Malta) and the Aquaculture Directorate within theMAFA. The project, which is being sponsored by the HSBC Foundation and authorised by ERA, is aimed at the study and conservation of the endangered endemic Freshwater crab (Qabru in Maltese). The “Qabru”, known to science as Potamon fluviatile lanfrancoi and is limited to a small number of localities where water is present all year long. In 2018 the Maltese freshwater crab was declared as the National Invertebrate of the Maltese islands and is legally protected.
Aims of project:
- To raise awareness and educate the public on the need to preserve the National invertebrate of Malta and its habitat.
- To help identify best ways to restore the habitat of the endemic sub-species where found.
- To secure a viable population in captivity and carry out captive-breeding programs aimed at preserving the wild stocks in Malta and Gozo.
Action 1: Public awareness and Education.
Public awareness and education are two highly important aspects of the project. The crustacean has no commercial value and it’s limited distribution makes it a rare acquaintance to most Maltese laypeople, hence it can easily be disregarded.
In order to inform the public and students about the freshwater crab’s life history and promote its protection and conservation, the project will be producing educational material and organising talks for students and the public.
Action 2: Captive breeding and species maintenance programmes.
The main objectives of this action are:
- To identify the best water conditions and feeding regimes for breeding Potamon fluviatile lanfracoi in captivity and develop suitable protocols for its captive breeding and maintenance with minimal genetic drift.
- To establish healthy populations of P.fluviatile l. to be maintained as ex-situ genetic stock for gene pool preservation.
