Taitung''s mitten crabs are back. The mitten crab is a popular delicacy among the Paiwan people, who love it so much they gave it its own festival. In 2009, Typhoon Morakot triggered rockslides that buried the creek bed and wiped out nearly the entire mitten crab population. Taitung locals took it upon themselves to save the mitten crab, closing off parts of the creek for use as a nursery. A decade later, the crabs are thriving. They''re a bit smaller than they used to be, but the locals say they couldn''t be prouder. The water in the creek runs clear and cold. Locals set out traps the night before, and they’re ready to see what they’ve caught.Pulling up the traps between the rocks, they find a dozen mitten crabs alive and kicking. No crab is particularly big, but the locals are pleased, as there are many more of the crabs than there used to be. Mitten crab is one of Paiwan people’s favorite dishes. Back when the crab flourished in the region, the Paiwan people celebrated it in a festival. But in 2009, Typhoon Morakot ravaged the creeks where the crabs resided, killing nearly the entire population. Locals launched their own conservation campaign to allow the crab to repopulate and recover.Hsu Chia-haoTaitung County Agriculture DepartmentThe recovery of mitten crabs in Southern Taiwan over the past 1 or 2 years is due to the conservation efforts of the local tribes. And the outcome is obviously very good.Even local authorities have given the official nod to this homegrown conservation campaign. Although the crabs now thrive in every part of the creek, locals are still exercising controls on crab catching as they work to sustain a healthy population for many generations to come.

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