SHANGHAI Ocean University yesterday authorized three enterprises to commercialize a breed of hairy crab that its researchers developed last year.

The crab breed, named “Jianghai 21” and recognized as a national fine breed, is projected to grow faster with higher yield and taste better than previous breeds.

With a contract value of 1.78 million yuan (US$257,520) to allow the three enterprises to use the new breed for five years, the venture also became the first college scientific achievement in new aquatic variety to be commercialized in China, said the university.