Abstract

A rotational trapping strategy for two species of crayfish (Procambarus clarkii and Procambarus zonangulus) was compared with two conventional, trapping practices in six large experimental crayfish ponds (two replicates per trapping strategy) managed to simulate commercial crayfish monocropping practices in southern Louisiana, USA. With conventional trapping, crayfish were harvested from March to May with baited traps (60 ha-1) either 3 consecutive days week-1 (1920 trap-sets ha-1 season-1) or 4 consecutive days week-1 (2280 trap-sets ha-1 season-1). With rotational trapping, half of the pond was trapped for 3 consecutive days week-1 (120 traps ha-1) for 2 weeks, after which trapping was rotated to the other half of the pond, and process repeated through study termination (1920 trap-sets ha-1 season-1). Mean yield and CPUE was significantly higher for 3 day conventional trapping (1686 kg ha-1, 890 g trap-1 day-?1) and 4 day trapping (1475 kg ha-1, 655 g trap-1 day-1) than for 3 day rotational trapping (1072 kg ha-1, 566 g trap-1 day-1) (P < 0.10). Additionally, nearly 50% of the crayfish harvested with 3 day trapping were estimated to be an acceptable market size of 20 g or larger, but less than 30% of harvested crayfish exceeded 20 g with 4 day conventional trapping or 3 day rotational trapping. Three day conventional trapping was the most effective trapping strategy.

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