Crayfish Farming

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31304, 25 February 1967, Page 21

Crayfish Farming

The rearing of young crayfish in experimental tanks by the Marine Department may lead to the possibility of commercial crayfish farming being considered in New Zealand.

Research into the raising of the crayfish by Dr. C. B. Kensler, a scientist at the department’s Fisheries Research Division in Wellngton, is described in the latest issue of the department’s journal.

“The successful rearing of young crayfish in tanks had not previously been investigated, and as far as is known, Dr. Kensler is the first person In the world to rear these animals in captivity successfully from the planktonic stage,” the journal says.

It become obvious that something was missing from their normal diet, and they were in danger of dying.

Dr. Kensler surmised that the type of rocks on which they were found clinging, might have been significant, and samples were placed in the tanks.

This proved correct, and it was established that algae on the rocks was a necessary item of the crayfish diet “The knowledge gained will be of considerable assistance in determining the future prospects of our crayfishing industry,” the journal says.

“If crayfish can be reared to maturity while in captivity this could arouse the exciting possibility of commercial crayfish farming.”