The Culture and Management of Scylla Species (CAMS) project is collaboration among four institutions worldwide - the University of Wales (Bangor) in the United Kingdom, Artemia Reference Center of the University of Ghent in Belgium, Can Tho University in Vietnam, and SEAFDEC/AQD in the Philippines. Funded by the European Union through the European Commission, it is divided into six work packages: improvement of broodstock and larval quality, bacterial disease control in the hatchery, technical identification of larvae of four crab species, nursery and aquasilviculture, crab fisheries and population dynamics, and stock enhancement. The project runs from December 2001 to May 2005.

The project aims to improve the reliability and economic viability of hatchery and nursery production of mud crabs, providing seed crabs for development of mangrove aquasilviculture (pen culture) systems. Hatchery production will also support further development of stock enhancement to improve mud crab fisheries in mangroves. Detailed fisheries and population studies will determine recruitment and productivity in crab fisheries in established and replanted mangroves, supporting selection of Scylla species for stock enhancement and comparison of the cost-benefits of stock enhancement and habitat rehabilitation as strategies for improving crab fishery yields. Most of the practical work is conducted in Vietnam and the Philippines, in close collaboration with the research groups of the European partners. The project has training and information components. Studies will be published in international peer-reviewed journals. Project outputs in terms of techniques will be translated into manuals

The first organizational meeting was held in January 9-11, 2002 at the SEAFDEC/AQD to discuss the specific activities to be undertaken in each work package. Subsequent annual coordination meetings were held at University of Ghent (December 27-29, 2002) and Can Tho University (January 12-15, 2004) to discuss the progress of the studies.