Determining survival times of blue swimmer crab using conventional live packing techniques
Due to new and proposed fisheries and other management regulations the Queensland seafood industry (both fishers and processors) is in economic turmoil. Without optimising income from our dwindling allocation of resources it is unlikely that many in the industry will survive. This project if successful will open the way for the development of a new value added product that will see greater returns to both fishers and processors. Without value adding our harvest and achieving higher returns this industry will not be able to sustain the present number of fishers and processors.PrioritiesThis project address QFIRAC’S strategic goal –‘ Fisheries resources are utilised to their maximum
Final report
This project is a preliminary investigation into the potential for live shipping of blue swimmer crabs by traditional dry packing methods. The project adopted the findings of the WA project ‘how to stop a blue crab feeling blue’ for the onboard handling procedures then investigated different methods of dry packing the live crabs to determine the best packing method and the survival rate at different times post packing.
All trials were conducted using 36 litre polystyrene cartons, each layer of crabs were separated by a moist 5mm piece of foam. Coolant gels were used to maintain a cool temperature within the polystyrene cartons, these were separated from the crabs by a layer of woodwool and a 6mm C flute corrugated board.
