Fresh water crayfish illegal?

[dutchdog]

Hi,

I am new to the forums and like crayfish. Now I heard that they are illegal.
Can someone please enlighten me on the full legislation?

A guy on junkmail sells these: (all same species.)

electric Blue Crayfish
Everglade Crayfish
Florida Crayfish
Procambarus alleni
Hammers Cobalt Blue Lobster

But I have also heard of a breeder in Paarl that breeds Cherax tenuimanus (marron)

James Visser
Paarl

Paarl's freshwater crayfish, Paarl

Freshwater Crayfish breeder


for restaurants.. So whats the story on it?

There is a quiet, but active, freshwater crayfish farming community in Southern Africa. They have discovered that there is a huge demand for these creatures and are building up stocks to cater for this demand. This manual describes the production of the marron (Cherax tenuimanus) as this is the most suitable species for Southern Africa, although the yabbie (Cherax. destructor) and red claw (Cherax. quadricarinatus) are also mentioned. Water quality, suitable infrastructure (16 pages).
Price: R225-00
ISBN: 0-9584315-8-2
Order directly from the Author

Cherax tenuimanus
Abstract:
The habitat preferences and life history characteristics of four alien species of freshwater crayfish (Cherax tenuimanus, C. destructor, C. quadricarinatus and Procambarus clarkii) are reviewed. The potential impact of these species on South African freshwater ecosystems is assessed and the desirability of allowing their importation evaluated. On the basis of principles espoused in the European Inland Fisheries Advisory Council’s Code of Practice on Aquatic Introductions, it is recommended that importation permits should not be granted for any of these species.

African Journal of Aquatic Science 2002, 27: 125–139

Keywords: freshwater crayfish; marron; redclaw; red swamp crayfish; yabby; Cherax tenuimanus; C. quadricarinatus; C. destructor; C. albidus; C. esculus; Procambarus clarkii; introductions; alien species; Code of Practice on Aquatic Introductions; South Africa

 

[LuckyFish]

The breeder in Paarl has some restrictions regarding his permit to breed freshwater crayfish.
One is, that not a single crayfish can leave the breeding facility alive! If so, he would loose his permit.
Freshwater crayfish are highly invasive!

 

[FransSny]

Higly illegal , getting a permit is almost impossible and IF you do get one your premises will be inspected / monitored.

My father in law is something at I & J ...even they couldnt get one. Bio security is a massive issue. As Marcell said they are highly invasive , you should report the ad

 

[LuckyFish]

There are two ads. Both in Joburg

Lobster in South Africa | Junk Mail Classifieds

 

[dutchdog]

Thought so..

They are so pretty though for in a tank..

Have heard one can get up to 10 years jail and r100000 fine..

Guess there will be plenty other pretty things to put in a tank.

 

[dutchdog]

There are two ads. Both in Joburg

Lobster in South Africa | Junk Mail Classifieds

4 actualy.. guess these people dont know or willing to take the risk.. No thank you.

 

[FransSny]

Yip its P clarkii....just blue colouration , also known as Louisianna swamp lobster....higly invasive and colonies have already been found in Gauteng

 

[brentv]

Bass caught in Midmar Dam have been found often with the Yabies ( destructo)

 

[brentv]

Sorry my bad, gotta get my facts straight, it was Albert Falls not Midmar!

 

[herkie]

Do you have a link to this Junkmail ad?

 

[belindamotion]

Do you have a link to this Junkmail ad?

@herkie ..Post NO#4...

Lobster in South Africa | Junk Mail Classifieds

 

[ziyaadb]

hohohoh that guy has balls, all FW inverts are illegal not to mention certain fish as well.

 

[Spikester]

Hey Guys

I thought you might be interested in seeing this:

Freshwater Fish Blacklist
Freshwater Plant Blacklist

There are a surprising amount of things blacklisted in the fresh water community.

 

[patled]

Hi,

I understand your frustrations. Especially when crayfish is nice to eat. Unfortunately for one to farm with exotic species on has to do a complete EIA. We have a similar situation in Mpumalanga on redclaw freshwater crayfish which already might exist in our river systems (migrated from Mazambique during floods).

Patled

 

[riyadh]

There will always be someone somwhere....
Government needs to be more strict on the black list

 

[MistaOrange]

Where there's a will there's a way!!!! Believe me I've seen some LFS bring in some black listed inverts in between the other LS & Cape conservation "missed it completely"

 

[Quintonv]

and this was just searched on junkmail

http://www.junkmail.co.za/pets-for-sale/fish-and-aquariums/gauteng/johannesburg/fresh-water-lobster-electric-blue-21641081

 

[MistaOrange]

It's for Joburg it's ok to keep them up there but here in CTN it's so hard to get them but as I said if there's a will there's a way.

 

[Smithers]

List of FW plants is hectic. Most of those plants are available from most pet shops.

 

[grafixgeekza]

I joined as found this post while researching the possibility of an aquaculture setup using freshwater crayfish. As part of my research I came across this document from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries ( http://www.nstf.org.za/ShowProperty?nodePath=/NSTF%20Repository/NSTF/files/Workshops/2011/Aquaculturespecies.pdf and http://www.daff.gov.za/doaDev/fisheries/03_areasofwork/Aquaculture/AquaDocumentation/Volume1_StatusAquaProdTradeSA.pdf )and in it, it lists Marron as a freshwater species available for aquaculture.

I am still in the process of investigating, but though I'd add my 2cents.