Certified processing of crab in Nicaragua for USA market The project consists of three major components: a fresh crab buying stations in Bluefields, a fishmeal processing plant and a pasteurised crabmeat production plant.Fresh crab (cooled) has a shelf life of about two weeks, and usually has to be air freighted to destination. This increases the final cost to the consumers and leaves producers vulnerable to market price oscillations.Heron Point Seafood Inc. from New Hampshire, USA (importer and distributor in crab meat, for the foodservice industry, retail stores, and restaurant chains), will join forces with Nicalapia S.A. from Nagarote, Nicaragua (trader and processor of fresh seafood products such as: shell fish, shrimp, lobster, crabs and fish), to establish a canning & pasteurising plant for crabmeat.In the facility, the crab meat will be first cooked, then extracted from the shells, canned and pasteurised. This way, the product can be stored for up to 24 months, to be sold when prices are more attractive.The export (to the USA) will be done by sea containers, significantly reducing costs and improving margins. Savings are also achieved by not transporting the shells (that represent 77% by weight of each crab), but just the actual meat. The hard shells, currently thrown away by the consumer, will be processed (at the source) into fishmeal, an important ingredient for animal feed, thus creating a clean process with no waste.Catching of the crabs is done with small canoes, in an artisanal way, and severe MSC guidelines will be followed: crabs are only accepted if they are not younger than six months (determined by minimum size of 4 inches), and no females with eggs are caught.Partners will set up a joint venture, that will perform a completely new activity in Nicaragua.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)MSC certification will guarantee sustainable fishing procedures, and the American FDA will make sure food safety regulations are met. HACCP and the EU certification for Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP) will be included in the project.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsThe plant will generate 750 jobs, mainly for the meat extraction from the shells, that is very labour intensive. Simultaneously, about 800 individual fishermen will supply the fresh crabs on a contract basis. The joint venture will support the fishermen with training and tools.During the following two years the number of employees will increase by 740 and an additional 800 fishermen will be involved in the business.The employees will earn salaries comparable to similar positions in Nicaragua. The payment will be equal for both male and female employees. In addition, the project will pay all benefits established by law.To ensure good working conditions the staff will be trained in good manufacturing practices including those related to security and safe handling of equipment of which special manuals will be developed.The project will provide additional benefits to the employees such as transport facilities, facilities for food preparation, and special medical service for the employees and their families.•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeThe pasteurisation of crab meat is not done at all in Nicaragua. Also, MSC certification of crab fishing will be new for the country.•	Chain effectsCurrently, the Local Partner purchases ion annually from fishermen communities. With the current project this should increase by at least 20%.•	EnvironmentThe fishing impact will be neutral, but the recycling of the crab shells into fishmeal will have a positive environmental impact.•	Position of womenOverall 75% of the employees will be female. and in management positions 60%. To set up a pasteurised crab meat production chain, with a capacity of 1.1 million pounds per year, from fisherman contract scheme, up to the final processing of the product.