Improving survival and quality of crabs and lobsters in transportation from first point of sale to market.

Abstract

Eastern rock lobsters, spanner crabs and mud crabs command a high price when supplied to the market as live product. Being aquatic animals, the demands to retain maximum quality and liveliness through the supply chain are challenging. Once taken from water, these crustaceans are subject to multiple hurdles resulting in cumulative stress and diminishing probability of survival. For the past two years, scientists from Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries have been working with the New South Wales (NSW) crab and lobster Industries to determine ways to reduce stress imposed on the animals from capture to market. Through temperature monitoring along the supply chain, two key areas were identified as having high impact on the crustaceans. Handling by individual fishers from point of capture was critical to keep animals cool, damp, out of light and with minimal disturbance. Temperature during transport of crabs and lobsters often imposed severe stress, arising from truck refrigeration temperatures being set below the tolerance of live animals and the influence of cold truck floor-beds reducing live animal temperatures. The importance of careful handling after capture was emphasised with fishers and co-operative management staff regularly at every landing location visit. Simple modifications for protecting live animals from cold temperatures during transport were developed to reduce stress on the live animals. The benefit gained from adapted practices was successfully demonstrated within commercial operations.