No related analysis
Red swamp crawfish
Chinese waters
Profile updated on 15 August 2016
SUMMARY
SUMMARY
IDENTIFICATION
SCIENTIFIC NAME(s)
Procambarus clarkii
SPECIES NAME(s)
Red swamp crawfish, Crawfish, crayfish, Cangrejo americano, Cangrejo de las marismas
COMMON NAMES
crawfish, crayfish
Red swamp crawfish is an introduced species in China. Catches (and exports) are reported as both farmed and wild, although FAO has raised doubts about the scale of intentional farming (FAO, 2007).
ANALYSIS
Strengths
As an introduced species, there are no concerns over depleting the fishery.
Weaknesses
The expansion of crawfish’s distribution has been considerable, and there are potentially serious environmental effects to sensitive habitats due to the expansion of this species. Official information on the fishery is not publicly available.
Options
A plan for the responsible use of the fishery should be implemented, with preventive actions to prevent its spread, along with ongoing monitoring actions for resources at risk. An international specialist group recommends as possible management options the trapping and removal of populations; creation of barriers to prevent spread; prohibiting the transport of live crayfish; and improvements to public education about risks to the environment (ISSG, 2011).
RECOMMENDATIONS
RETAILERS & SUPPLY CHAIN
- Determine if the introduced species can effectively be eradicated. If so, further introductions should be stopped and efforts made to reduce abundance and eventually eliminate the introduced species. If not, the introduced species should be managed to ensure sustainability of the ecosystem.
- Ask the government to improve their monitoring and develop a management plan with appropriate objectives for this fishery (e.g. eradication, intense harvest to minimize impacts from red swamp crawfish, or optimizing productivity of red swamp crawfish) and the ecosystem impacts of harvest.
Fisheries
Within FishSource, the term "fishery" is used to indicate each unique combination of a flag country with a fishing gear, operating within a particular management unit, upon a resource. That resource may have a known biological stock structure and/or may be assessed at another level for practical or jurisdictional reasons. A fishery is the finest scale of resolution captured in FishSource profiles, as it is generally the scale at which sustainability can most fairly and practically be evaluated.
Fisheries
Analysis
OVERVIEW
Strengths
As an introduced species, there are no concerns over depleting the fishery.
Weaknesses
The expansion of crawfish’s distribution has been considerable, and there are potentially serious environmental effects to sensitive habitats due to the expansion of this species. Official information on the fishery is not publicly available.
Options
A plan for the responsible use of the fishery should be implemented, with preventive actions to prevent its spread, along with ongoing monitoring actions for resources at risk. An international specialist group recommends as possible management options the trapping and removal of populations; creation of barriers to prevent spread; prohibiting the transport of live crayfish; and improvements to public education about risks to the environment (ISSG, 2011).
RECOMMENDATIONS
Last updated on 7 August 2018
Recommendations to Retailers & Supply Chain
- Determine if the introduced species can effectively be eradicated. If so, further introductions should be stopped and efforts made to reduce abundance and eventually eliminate the introduced species. If not, the introduced species should be managed to ensure sustainability of the ecosystem.
- Ask the government to improve their monitoring and develop a management plan with appropriate objectives for this fishery (e.g. eradication, intense harvest to minimize impacts from red swamp crawfish, or optimizing productivity of red swamp crawfish) and the ecosystem impacts of harvest.
1.STOCK STATUS
2.MANAGEMENT QUALITY
No related analysis
3.ENVIRONMENT AND BIODIVERSITY
HABITAT
Negative environmental effects have been reported in other countries where red swamp crawfish has been introduced, particularly in sensitive habitats. Issues include competition with native species for resources, depletion of key plant species and the introduction of pathogens (FAO, 2007).
FishSource Scores
SELECT SCORES
MANAGEMENT QUALITY
STOCK HEALTH:
No data available
No data available
No data available
No data available
No data available
No data available
DATA NOTES
*Note*: As an introduced species, and with no information on the wild-caught fisheries made publicly available, no scores can be determined.
Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs)
SELECT FIP
Access FIP Public Report
Progress Rating: B
Evaluation Start Date:
7 Jun 2017
Type:
Basic
Comments:
FIP rating remains at B. Last stage 4 achievement reported within 12 months.
|
1.
FIP Development
|
Jul 16 |
|
|---|---|---|
|
2.
FIP Launch
|
Mar 17 |
|
| Jun 17 |
|
|
|
3.
FIP Implementation
|
Mar 18 |
|
|
4.
Improvements in Fishing Practices and Fishery Management
|
Mar 18 | |
|
5.
Improvements on the Water
|
— | Verifiable improvement on the water |
|
6.
MSC certification (optional)
|
— | MSC certificate made public |
Certifications
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
No related MSC certifications
Sources
Credits
FAO, 2007. Cultured Aquatic Species Information Programme. Procambarus clarkii. Cultured Aquatic Species Information Programme. Text by McAlain, W.R.; Romaire R.P. In: FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department [online]. Rome. Updated 13 January 2007. [Cited 19 July 2012]. http://www.fao.org/fishery/culturedspecies/Procambarus_clarkii/en
ICES, 2004. ICES Code of Practice on the Introductions and Transfers of Marine Organisms.http://www.ices.dk/reports/general/2004/icescop2004.pdf
Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG), 2011. Global Invasive Species Database. Procambarus clarkii (crustacean).http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=608
References
Comments
Comments on:
Red swamp crawfish - Chinese waters