The mud crab resource in northern Australia is highly valuable but limited in size. This dictates a need to improve economic return to all sectors along the supply chain, including the harvesters. Critical aspects of the value-chain are:
• the fishery takes place in remote locations often with little or no infrastructure
• distribution chains are varied and often very long, with unexpected delays
• crabs reach market sale-point in varying condition
• sole dependence is for supply of live product
• market price is largely driven by SFM were crab liveliness is a key price setting criteria
• acknowledged insufficient information of handling live crab by end-chain stakeholders
• current handling knowledge varies greatly between operators and is self taught by trial and error
• Industry personnel are of various nationalities and English is often not their first language.

The recently completed FRDC project delivered recommendations for best practice protocols to achieve premium quality mud crab. Only those few stakeholders directly involved in the project currently have access to that knowledge. From the limited implementation of the research findings, industry has reported an impressive 50% reduction in mud crab mortality rates. If extended, this would equate to a revenue gain within the mud crab industry of >M$2 per annum.

To achieve maximum value-addition to the mud crab resource, there is a strong need to extend and support awareness of best practice along the entire supply chain. Specific handling procedures need to be targeted to the different sectors and communication with each sector to be delivered in various appropriate formats.

Ensured premium quality mud crabs available to the consumer and increased revenue by >10% to the industry can only be realised if best practice is correctly adopted throughout the entire supply chain. This proposal is designed to achieve that aim.