54 June 2012 Initial grading techniques for Spanish Procambarus resulted in abundant undersized crayfish that were used to stock established and new habitats. tail meat (Figure 4) (de Andalucía 2001). The internal Spanish culinary demand overwhelmingly prefers live wholesale product, with less than 0.5 percent demand for frozen product. Similar to Chinese Procambarus product imported into the USA, Spanish crayfish enters the frozen USA markets as 66 percent tail meat. Economic Impact of the Commercial Procambarus Sector in Spain During the 27 years following the sanctioned introduction of Procambarus into southern Spain, over 20,000 cumulative annual incomes have come from this economic activity rooted in crustacean aquaculture. An estimated 40,000 t of marketable Procambarus, worth an estimated US$250 million retail, has provided economic opportunities in an otherwise depressed rural area. Although the introduction project encountered some unexpected outcomes that undermined the profitability of private crayfish aquaculture ventures, the permanent colonization of the Iberian Peninsula with Procambarus can be considered an economic success. The principal outcomes include needed employment and reversal of the monetary crayfish deficit, both of which existed previous to the introduction. The positive economic input within the production area has gradually become a source of civic pride and cultural identity, with an annual crayfish festival heralding Procambarus as their regional symbol (Junta de Andalucía 2001). As is the case in the other crayfish producing countries, the future of the Procambarus sector in southern Spain is uncertain. World demand for Procambarus has grown exponentially, thus elevating the genus Procambarus as the most economically important representative of Astacidae (FAO 2010). As a global commodity with multiple potential sources, market conditions for crayfish products are very sensitive to many factors other than the presence of harvestable crayfish populations (Figsures 5 and 6). A species, such as Procambarus crayfish, that is locally well adapted and permanently naturalized can make a positive contribution to local economic development. Notes 1Louisiana State University AgCenter, PO Box 25203, Baton Rouge, Louisiana,70894, USA, agaude@agcenter.LSU.edu References de Andalucía, Junta. 2001. Estudio sobre el impacto economic del sector de cangrejo de Rio en Andalucia. Consejeria de Agricultura y Pesca, Sevilla, España. (in Spanish). Delibes, M. and I. Adrian. 1987. Effects of crayfish introduction on otter Lutra lutra in Doñana National Park, SW Spain. Biological Conservation 42:153-159. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). 2010. Pesca Procambarus clarkia. www.fao.org/fishery/culturedspecies/Procambarus_clarkii/es. (in Spanish). Gaudé, A.P. 1984. Ecology and production of Louisiana red swamp Fig. 5. Global Procambarus harvest by year (t) Fig. 6. Average global Procambarus price (US$ per kg). (Continued on page 72)
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