
Marron is a name given to two closely related species of
crayfish
Crayfish are freshwater crustaceans belonging to the clade Astacidea, which also contains lobsters. In some locations, they are also known as crawfish, craydids, crawdaddies, crawdads, freshwater lobsters, mountain lobsters, rock lobsters, mu ...
in
Western Australia. Formerly considered a single species, it is now recognised as comprising two species, the critically endangered ''
Cherax tenuimanus
''Cherax tenuimanus'', known as the hairy marron or Margaret River marron, is one of two species of crayfish
Crayfish are freshwater crustaceans belonging to the clade Astacidea, which also contains lobsters. In some locations, they are ...
'', and the species that is outcompeting it, ''
C. cainii''.
Marron are considered a luxury product and are the subject of a developing aquaculture industry in Western Australia and other Australian states. Total Australian production of farmed marron was 30
tons in 1996. In Western Australia, recreational fishing for marron is tightly controlled, with a limited season, permits are required, and minimum sizes are enforced.
Marron have been introduced to
Kangaroo Island in
South Australia, where they have been commercially farmed, and have established feral populations in local waterways.
References
External links
Fisheries Western Australia – Marron Fact SheetMarron Recreational Fishing in Western AustraliaFarming Marron in Western AustraliaMarron Grower's Association of Western AustraliaMarron101 – The Consumer Marron website from the Marron Growers Association
{{Edible crustaceans
Parastacidae
Freshwater crustaceans of Australia
Fauna of Western Australia
Edible crustaceans
Australian cuisine