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Over the years, our Association has identified many concerns regarding various issues pertaining to our industry. Here we will endeavor to address these concerns by providing answers to frequently asked questions.
Environmental:
Q. Does Redclaw crayfish farming use up a lot of precious water?
A. No. We really only have a loan of the water. Some water is lost to the atmosphere due to evaporation and contributes to rainfall. By regulation, water drained from ponds is contained in a catchment dam then used for irrigation or recycled back into ponds.
Q. Do Redclaw crayfish farmers use a lot of dangerous chemicals?
A. No. Basically all that is put into Redclaw crayfish ponds is Redclaw crayfish and water. No dangerous chemicals, additives, hormones or the like are used in Redclaw crayfish farming.
Q. Is Redclaw crayfish farming a source of noise and visual pollution?
A. Redclaw crayfish farming is one of the quietest of rural pursuits – after all the Redclaw crayfish is a very quiet animal! Certainly pumps and aerators are used, but a noisy pump does not make a noise for very long. Farms are set out geometrically with services underground, the result being pleasing to the eye.
Q. Does Redclaw crayfish farming impact on heritage areas, wetlands and the like?
A. Site selection plays an important part in the success of a redclaw crayfish farm. Redclaw crayfish are fresh water animals therefore coastal wetlands are to be avoided. Ideal soil type is hard clay, therefore farms are not found in areas of fertile soil and lush vegetation.
Q. Does Redclaw crayfish farming cause competition for native animals?
A. Any escape of Redclaw crayfish into the wild is prevented by fences, screens etc. In fact the catchment dam provides a recreational area for native animals.
Q. Is it true that there is an infestation of Redclaw crayfish in water impoundments throughout the state and that they have a detrimental effect on native fish stocks?
A. Redclaw crayfish farms must be constructed so as to prevent the escape of animals into the wild. It is a fact however, that many impoundments abound with Redclaw crayfish much to the delight of recreational fishers. At this time there is no evidence that Redclaw crayfish have an impact on population of native species.
Health:
Q. We have heard the term “effluent water” used – does this mean water drained from a pond is a health risk?
A. The term “effluent” is an unfortunate choice of word. We prefer to use the term “pre loved water”! Any being, including Redclaw crayfish, needs a healthy environment to thrive, which in our case is healthy water in our ponds. It is obviously in our own interests to keep our pond water in top condition.
Q. Does Redclaw crayfish farming use up a lot of precious water?
A. No. We really only have a loan of the water. Some water is lost to the atmosphere due to evaporation and contributes to rainfall. By regulation, water drained from ponds is contained in a catchment dam then used for irrigation or recycled back into ponds.
Q. Isn’t all that water a breeding ground for mosquitoes, especially the disease carrying Aedes aegypti?
A. A crayfish pond is a “live” body of water which contains various species of organisms that prey on mosquito larvae. Mosquitoes are more likely to be found breeding in pot plants around the home.
Farming:
Q. When I grow all these Redclaw crayfish, will I be able to sell them?
A. This a common question and hard to answer in a few words. Small or beginner farmers must be careful not to establish a market that they cannot supply consistently and thus give the industry a bad name as being unreliable. Another trap for new farms is to inadvertently undercut a fellow farmer that has been supplying the customer for years.
Sydney Fish Market is always there as a market, the price has been very good, but is uncertain and fluctuates with supply as it is an auction. Export opportunities come up regularly but normally are too large for any farmer to handle. Chefs these days are more adventurous and local restaurants, pubs or seafood wholesalers in your area can generally be turned into a market. Overall, marketing has never been a serious issue with the industry, but managing how you market your product is. Redclaw crayfish is an accepted part of an established seafood market contrary to such industries as alpaca’s where markets had to be built from scratch.
Q. What with, when and how much do you feed Redclaw crayfish crayfish?
A. The question of feed and feeding has been approached in a fairly ad hoc manner in the past, which is exactly why the industry has embarked on a five year research project to determine the optimum feed and feeding methods for Redclaw crayfish crayfish. (See
Research – Feeding and Nutrition)
The following answers to these questions will be based on the best knowledge available at this time, but be aware that the results of the current research project could well require this information to be updated.
What to feed: Most stockfeed producers make what they call Redclaw crayfish pellets most of which are adequate. Grains with high protein content such as soybean and lupins have proved to be a reasonable feed.
When to feed: Traditionally every second day has been adopted as a feeding interval by most farmers. Feeding late in the afternoon takes advantage of the crepuscular nature of redclaw crayfish. Feed needs to be broardcast across the pond
How much feed: Experienced farmers are guided by the water color to gauge feeding quantity. A more sure way of monitoring feed quantity is the use of small feed trays employed fortnightly in each pond.
Q. Does the industry have a centralized marketing organization?
A. A few have been tried over the years but all have failed due to various factors such as unreliable supply. There is no doubt the industry would prosper under such a system, and is one of the opportunities that will evolve as the industry grows.
Q. Do farmed Redclaw crayfish have a bland or muddy taste?
A. Farmed Redclaw crayfish are held in a post harvest clean water purging operation which makes their taste, tenderness and appearance superior to wild caught animals.
Q. There seems to be conflicting information available regarding farming Redclaw crayfish.
A. A lot of the information published in the early days is out of date in the light of industry advancement in recent years. This website contains the latest advances.
Q. Where can I find out about licensing requirements for redclaw crayfish farming?
Q. Has any exploration into the feasibility of a large scale redclaw crayfish operation been undertaken?
A. Yes. The DPI contracted a private consulting firm to compile a Scoping Analysis on that very subject in 2005. It was completed in 2006 and may be viewed by
clicking here.
The industry supports the concept of this report in principle and would welcome it being implemented.
It will become obvious to anyone studying this website that many of the statements and recommendations made in the report are outdated, not only in time (eight years old), but by the progress the industry has made.
It is felt that the accuracy of some of the assumptions that support the financial model are in question and the outcomes predicted by the model should be treated with caution.
The industry is currently in discussions with the consultant in an effort to get the report rewritten – watch this space!
Q. Is Redclaw crayfish farming a profitable business and where do I start?
Q. Are there any existing farms for sale?
Q. What have been recent advancements in the industry?
Q Where do I find out about the biology of redclaw crayfish?
