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Summary of full report
October 2000
RIRDC Publication No 00/142
RIRDC Project No CSU-2A
Freshwater crayfish occur naturally throughout Australia. Three species, yabby (Cherax destructor), redclaw (Cherax quadricarinatus) and marron (Cherax tenuimanus) are exploited commercially.
Commercial marron production is largely based in its natural habitat in south-west Western Australia (WA) and there is an expanding base of production in South Australia (SA) especially on Kangaroo Island. Commercial redclaw production is mainly confined to coastal regions of Queensland (Qld) and there is a small amount of recorded production from coastal areas of northern NSW. Yabbies are produced commercially throughout their natural distribution range in NSW, Victoria (Vic) and SA but the majority of current production is derived from the translocated population in WA.
Marron and redclaw production is based almost entirely on semi-intensive aquaculture in purpose built ponds. By contrast, commercial yabby production is currently derived from harvesting of farm dams especially in Western Australia, from wild catch in South Australia, Victoria and NSW and to a lesser extent from purpose built ponds in all four States.
The opportunity exists to expand the use of existing or purpose built farm water resources for commercial production of freshwater crayfish, particularly given the recent changes to government regulations in respect of harvesting from farm dams in NSW and Victoria. These changes create a new class of aquaculture permit which enables a single license holder to harvest yabbies, in collaboration with the relevant landholders, from multiple farm dams spread across multiple properties. Previous regulations required a separate license for every property.
The information on which this Report is based was gathered from sixteen leading industry personnel across all mainland states of Australia. Tasmania and the Northern Territory were not included in the survey because in the years 1996/97 through 1998/99 there was no recorded aquaculture production of freshwater crayfish from either location.
The methodology employed was to design a questionnaire covering all aspects of the information being sought and to refine the questionnaire format after consultation with colleagues and a small sample of industry personnel. The final form of the questionnaire was the same for all respondants but the freshwater crayfish species that were relevant varied between the states.
Levels of freshwater crayfish
production have been slowly increasing over the past 5-10 years and for
the past three years (1996/97 to 1998/99) have averaged 421 tonnes with
a value of $4.968 million.
Yabby production averages
73 percent of total volume, with over half (58 percent) coming from WA.
Reflecting the lower average price for yabbies, their production averages
58 percent total value.
Levels of freshwater crayfish production are predicted to show modest increases in 1999/2000 but are predicted to increase around threefold by 2004/2005 to a level of 1589 tonnes with a value of $20.718 million.
For the three species of commercially farmed freshwater crayfish, yabby, redclaw and marron, the levels of production are predicted to increase between 1999/2000 and 2004/2005 by 293%, 239% and 381% respectively.
For redclaw and marron the predicted increase in production will be based on semi-intensive aquaculture in purpose built ponds. For yabbies, the majority (72%) of the predicted increase is estimated to come from increased utilisation of existing farm dams with the remainder coming from purpose built ponds.
Despite the magnitude of the predicted increases in production, prices received by farmers for freshwater crayfish are predicted to remain relatively stable. This prediction is based on assessments of the size of possible export markets and on the ability of the local market to absorb more product at current prices.
Yabby aquaculture based on harvesting from farm dams can be profitable and provide an additional source of income from water resources that have already been created for land based agriculture purposes.
Crayfish aquaculture in purpose built ponds can also be profitable but economies of scale apply and larger scale operations are more likely to be economically sustainable. Because of higher yields and prices, semi-intensive redclaw and marron operations may be more viable than semi-intensive yabby aquaculture systems.
Commercial fin fish operations typically have higher production yields than reported for freshwater crayfish and there may be scope for polyculture involving fin fish and frehwater crustaceans to increase total returns from investment in purpose built ponds.
Potential export markets for Australian freshwater crayfish have been reported to be capable of absorbing as much as 2000 tonnes p.a. Existing export markets are in Europe and south east Asia but additional market development activity will also be focussed on Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the USA.
Perceived impediments to industry expansion included:
Processor capacity.
Increased funding for
R&D and technology transfer is required to support expansion of a more
productive, profitable and economically viable freshwater crayfish industry.
These needs have been recognised at the broader level of planning for increased
support for aquaculture in most states.
 
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