Mud Crab

The project seeks to share experiences and understandings and identify issues and opportunities for collaborative approaches across the industry and agencies. In addition attempt to build industry cohesion and capacity through development of a national industry plan and communication network. (2019-ongoing)

This involved an initial in country feasibility study to assess the economic potential for such a business and assessing key aspects including market analysis, post-harvest advice and hatchery and farming feasibility and pond design and construction. (2016 – 2017).

Development of a new mud crab farming business in Malaysia. This involved an initial in country feasibility study to assess the socio-economic potential for such a business in Malaysia to supply local and export markets. This included assessing all key aspects of the industry including market analysis, post-harvest advice and hatchery and farming feasibility. This has led to the building and commissioning of the hatchery, farm development and an integrated farm to plate program for hard and soft shell mud crabs. This has involved in country work, desk top analysis and expertise linking. The farm is in production. (2015 – 2018)

Extensive pre-feasibility analysis for development of a Mud Crab Farming Business in SE Asia, including assessment of;

• Suitability of the region, optimal sites, design specifications and estimated costs for farm, hatchery, nursery, processing and packing facilities
• Summary of post-harvest techniques appropriate for area
• Mud crab marketing situational analysis and market appraisal
• Human resource and related training requirements
• Business model options. (2015).

Project is seeking to attain a defined and precise assessment method of shell hardness using the current Guide to the Australian Live Mud Crab Grading Scheme (AILMCGS) and identify objective technologies and/or develop methodologies to support grading assessment. A key outcome to date has been the development of a revision of the AILMCGS – Version.

Guide to Using the Australian Industry Live Mud Crab Grading Scheme (pdf)
Background to the Australian Industry Live Mud Crab Grading Scheme (pdf)
Guide to the Australian Live Mud Crab Grading Scheme FLOWCHART (pdf)

A project to develop a national scheme across key states and territories and along the entire supply chain within Australia to address the differing interpretations of live mud crab grades. FRDC project 2011/225 – ‘Using Industry Expertise to Build a National System for Grading of Live Mud Crabs’. The scheme was developed through a consultative forum that brought together key national participants in the industry to develop an industry driven scheme. 2011 – 2012. View report (pdf)

Comprehensive Australian Industry Live Mud Crab Grading Scheme

Australian Mud Crab Grading Scheme – How Full is Your Muddy

Live Mud Crab Best Handling and Grading

Fact sheets for consumers (pdf)
Fact sheet for harvesters (pdf)
Fact Sheet for meat fullness (pdf)
Fact sheet for recovery procedure (pdf)
Fact Sheet for retailers (pdf)
Fact Sheet for tanking recommendations (pdf)
Fact Sheet for transport recommendations (pdf)
NT Code of Practice NT Mud Crab Fishery (pdf)
Final Report (pdf)

Final report – Maximising revenue within the NT Mud Crab Fishery by enhancing post-harvest survival of mud crabs (pdf)

(view report)

Mud-Crab-Recruitment-Literature (pdf)

Northern Territory Mud Crab Fishery Environmental Management System (pdf)

view report (pdf)

Key roles related to staff capacity building through a formalised training program (hands-on and class), development of training material and appropriate manuals for staff inductions and ongoing training. Also provided advice on post harvest controls and protocols including improved product flow and processing room requirements and protocols to ensure product quality and consistency.

Facilitate a targeted training program and capacity building opportunities for Indigenous aquaculturists, processors and government agents in the Federated States of Micronesia, to assist in developing a sustainable, financially and logistically viable crab farming operation. Matters covered establishing a quality control system, processing and packing of live mud crabs , transport and freighting of live mud crabs along with general strategies to minimise crab mortalities through the supply chain. 2007

The report provided opinion and advice in respect to operational and financial assumptions in the Plan for each fishery operation as well as the operation as a whole. 2010

Consultant to the Anindilyakwa Land Council as part of their Aquaculture Feasibility on the Groote Eylandt Archipelago – precis on mud crab aquaculture (2018).

This involved an initial in country feasibility study to assess the economic potential for such a business and assessing key aspects including market analysis, post-harvest advice and hatchery and farming feasibility and pond design and construction.  (2016 – 2017)