Abstract

The emergence of sustainability criteria has prompted a re-evaluation of aquaculture production methods with high rates of resource use and degradation. However, the culture of crawfish in the US may represent a legitimate model of low­input, sustainable aquaculture. In the southeastern U.S., crawfish (Procambarus clarkil) and (Procambarus zonangulus) are cultivated in 50,000 hectares with annual production in excess of 20,000 MT. Approximately one half of this production results from the double cropping of rice and crawfish in agricultural fields. Traditional rice­crawfish rotation utilizes surface and sub-surface aquifers and is highly supplemented by seasonal rainfall. Subterranean burrowing of mature, mated crawfish begins in early summer when fields are drained. Immediate planting of rice in the damp soil minimizes the need for additional cultivation and herbicide use. Crawfish feed on detrital material provided by decaying crop residues, thus no formulated feeds are required. Fuel requirements are usually limited to the application of pre-germinated rice and fertilizer by airplane. Little or no loss of top soil occurs due to the shallow water levee system employed in rice fields. Supplemental income and reduced input requirements suggest that rice-crawfish systems possess both economical and environmental aspects of sustainability.

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