Crabs are served in Quzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

After this summer's three-and-a-half-month fishing ban, the availability of seafood has surged in Jiangshan, a county-level city in Quzhou, Zhejiang province, with swimming crabs becoming the most popular since Aug 16.

Most of the swimming crabs in Jiangshan's market are transported daily from places like Ningbo and Hangzhou. Their prices are influenced by various factors, such as sea weather conditions and transportation logistics.

Since early August, price fluctuations for swimming crabs have been common. For example, on Aug 15, the price per 500 grams was 65 yuan ($9.13), but by Aug 18, it had risen to 75 yuan.

Despite the recent price volatility, swimming crabs have remained popular due to the fishing ban and their deliciousness. Since the crabs became available, sales have been stable. On weekdays, over 50 kilograms of swimming crabs are sold daily, with an additional 25 kilograms sold on weekends, said Chai Shuilan, a seafood vendor.

Despite the unpredictable prices of swimming crabs, many residents are still eager to taste them. Other crab lovers have adopted a different approach — buying freshly killed crabs. They taste nearly the same but are much cheaper.

Many hotels and restaurants have also seen an increased demand for swimming crabs, and a variety of crab dishes have become more popular of late.