Potential for productivity gains: innovative new …QLD Crayfish Farmers Association & AquaVerde Redclaw Emerging industries: innovating for new markets Potential for productivity

QLD Crayfish Farmers Association & AquaVerde Redclaw

Emerging industries: innovating for new markets

Potential for productivity gains: innovative new technology for hatchery raised

juvenile redclaw crayfish

by

Colin Valverde

President North QLD Crayfish Farmers AssociationOwner AquaVerde Crayfish


Introduction redclaw

Redclaw (Cherax quadricarinatus) is a tropical freshwater species which is native to north Australia; mainly Far North Queensland (QLD gulf draining system), parts of NT and PNG.

Attributes for aquaculture:

- fast growing to larger sizes by world standard- Simple life cycle and 1 year grow-out cycle- Fecund- Easy harvesting (using flow-traps)- Non burrowing- Gregarious (for crayfish)- No major disease issues- Almost unlimited demand overseas


© AquaVerde

And so…… why do they call them redclaw ?

“In fact, few things in the way of food are amiss to the crayfish; living or dead, fresh or carrion, animal or vegetable, it is all one.”Thomas H. Huxley, The Crayfish, 1879


Redclaw Farming in the past:

Low intensive, low tech pond based growout.

No dedicated hatchery: all juvenile production and broodstock management done on each farm.

The largest farm has about 50 ponds of 1000 m² each.


Statistics:Currently about 10 farms producing 80% of yearly production.

Industry will produce around 100 tonnes this financial year (a drop in the ocean).

Currently prices from $ 22 - $ 35 per kg live redclaw.

Normal sizes vary from 50 g to 120 g each.Premium redclaw from 150 g upwards.


History of redclaw industry / farmingA few pioneers began experimenting with redclaw on their properties in the early 80’s.

In 1980 – 1990 redclaw was discovered as a potential aquaculture species. Dr. Clive Jones was at forefront of research at Walkamin research station mostly focusing on husbandry.

There was a rapid expansion in number of farms, but overall redclaw farming was a failure as relatively small sized farms (hobbyists) and speculators moved in (ill advised and undercapitalised).Stagnation 1990 – 2006: The QLD Government cut funding for redclaw research to practically zero and Walkamin research station closed.

There was still a moderate increase in production, but slow development.Stabilised now to a core group of about 10 dedicated farmers.2006 – present is the subject of the rest of this presentation.


What’s holding us back ?

Production technology and know-how !!!

NQCFA approached RIRDC in 2007 for funding for a selective breeding project run by farmers with technical input from JCU Townsville (Dr Dean Jerry).

Research projects so far

Selective breeding done

Nutrition done & specific redclaw pellets developed

Hatchery almost done

Survival in progress (cast of thousands)


Research in progressBio-floc / moore-floc/ (enhancing natural productivity in ponds)BacteriophageGrowth & survival of craylings

(husbandry, nursery stage, feed, stocking densities, habitat, etc etc)

NutritionTemnocephala (flatworms)Viral study identificationGenome mapping


The time is right for a HatcheryThe absence of a seed stock production facility is holding back the redclaw industry.The creation of a hatchery has been the focus for our farm.

The old way of producing juveniles: throwing berried females into a pond and hoping for the best. Disadvantages: unknown what survival might be, big variation in age and growth.


The new way - crayling from a hatcheryAdvantages in a nutshell:

- control over life cycle- disease mitigation (viral, fungal,

bacterial & protozoan)- genetic improvements- Farmers can stock known age & quantities

(predict eventual production)- improved husbandry (known bio-mass)

- extend production season

- faster & more even growth

- opens up new areas of research


What does a redclaw hatchery look like?

It is based on a technique designed in Finland that was used for conservation purposes.

In 2006 AquaVerde brought an example to Australia and began to adapt it to our tropical redclaw species.


Eyed egg ready to hatch

Freshly hatchedStage 1 Larvae

Moulting into Stage 2 Larvae


Phage at work……

Aeromonas bacterium under siege from bacteriophage

Phage spilling out froma ruptured bacterium


In November 2016 a new commercial hatchery (with its own lab) started in Townsville.

Modelled on the hatchery from AquaVerdePartnership between ACH and AquaVerde

as we are providing eggs for the hatchery

QLD redclaw farmers Export


Conclusion

Growing interest in redclaw as restaurant food domestically and prices are on the rise.

Also strong interest internationally (Asian countries) in redclaw as an aquaculture species.

So many people talking about redclaw, exciting times for us but still a long journey……….


RIRDCRIRDC provides us with much more than just funding.Their support opened many doors and built our reputation as an active and worthwhile industry allowing us to build relationships with research institutions and extend our network.

JCU CSIRO(James Cook UniversityCairns & Townsville)

Farmers QCFA (research levy)

We now get so many small spin off research projects with undergraduate and post graduate students


Photo acknowledgement

Photos on slides 4, 7 & 16 are from QCFA,Bacteriophage photos are from Ausphage,all other photos are from AquaVerde Redclaw

A redclaw farmer in his natural habitat

A handful

of craylings

Documents

Potential for productivity gains: innovative new …QLD Crayfish Farmers Association & AquaVerde Redclaw Emerging industries: innovating for new markets Potential for productivity