Crayfish plans

Press, 7 October 1987, Page 20

Crayfish plans

Sir,—The fresh-water crayfish of Western Australia, known as marron, are being hailed by some as the great aquaculture opportunity for Northland, and New Zealand. Trial farming is taking place at Warkworth. There is grave concern that when they escape, as they inevitably will, marron will join the ranks of exotic troublemakers such' as opossums and rabbits. They will be able to breed not only in the north of the North Island but in the northern South Island. Being aggressively omnivorous, they eat small fish, their eggs and koura. Marron are banned in Victoria, Australia. South Australia is aiming for complete eradication because it Is so concerned for other freshwater life. The economic viability of such ventures depends on selling to other aquaculture farms. As there are no established export markets, and the environmental consequences of escaped marron in New Zealand are serious, I am deeply concerned. — Yours, etc., LH. SHAND. October 5, 1987.