Abstract

Crayfish growers along the east coast of the United States from Florida through New England were mailed a 20-question survey to ascertain the industry status. Returns were received from 11 states, with the greatest numbers of returns from Florida and South Carolina. The overall response rate was 45%. Respondents indicated that crayfish were cultured for food, bait and the aquarium trade, and that several species were cultured including Procambarus acutus acutus, P. paeninsulanus, P. alleni, Orconectes immunis, and the non-native P. clarkii. Growers from South Carolina to Virginia who cultured P. clarkii for food followed an extensive production model with vegetative forage over a traditional wet-dry culture cycle. Harvested crayfish were sold, primarily in local retail markets, for a comparatively high price of US $6.60 kg-1. Most of the bait crayfish production was in Pennsylvania and New York where native species, in addition to P. clarkii, were cultured. Bait crayfish were marketed through local and regional wholesale outlets. Pet crayfish culture in Florida involved intensive culture methods and controlled breeding for selective color morphs of P. paeninsulanus and P. alleni. These crayfish entered the wholesale market at high prices per individual. Respondents reported that labor shortage was the most serious problem facing all three sectors of the industry. The bait- and aquarium-trade producers reported that their industry sectors are likely to increase in the future whereas the food-crayfish growers were less optimistic about the future of crayfish culture along the east coast of United States.

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