Wu noted that white crabs exist naturally but are extremely rare due to the recessive gene and their vulnerability in aquatic environments. Their white color is more exposed to predators and more likely to be attacked.

Wu's team first discovered the white color breed in the spring of 2016 in Shanghai's Chongming district and Xinghua in Jiangsu province, which became the start of the research and cultivation.

The team has made great efforts in the breeding process, selecting the best out of thousands of crab eggs repeatedly to ensure a stable production. The team also carried out systematic research into the variant, including morphology, genetic diversity, breeding performance and nutritional quality.

Meanwhile, the team developed a set of farming techniques and nutritional control strategies and worked with both farmers and business brands to promote large-scale farming and help foster a whole industry chain of white crab production.