Development of intensive pond farming techniques for the mud crab, Scylla serrata (Forskal), in northern Australia
Final report
A large demand for crab meat on both Australian and S.E. Asian markets has provided incentive for the development of a mud crab Scylla serrata farming industry in tropical Australia. Cannibalism of newly-moulted, softshelled crabs however constitutes a major constraint to profitable pond farming.
The main aim of the project was to observe moult-related cannibalism of mud crabs and define causitive factors of this phenomenon and then to develop pond design and management techniques which alleviated this problem.