'A Proposal for the Feasible Exploitation of the Red Swamp Crayfish Procambarus Clarkii in Introduced Regions'

摘要

The invasive red swamp crayfishProcambarus clarkiiis a human-mediated in-troduced species in the Iberian Peninsula. The species was introduced for eco-nomic reasons in the south of the Peninsula, but it is currently abundant andwidespread in Portugal and Spain. As an invasive species, it is regulated bydifferent laws in the Iberian Peninsula. Thus, although exploitation of thiscrayfish is permitted by the central government in Spain, the species is sub-jected to severe restrictions in Portugal. Moreover, regional governments inSpain only allow recreational fishing ofP. clarki, except in southern Spainwhere there is an industrial activity based on the red swamp crayfish. We pro-pose compromise measures in order to reconcile the economic exploitation ofthis aquatic resource and environmental concerns. The proposal mainly con-sists of the sale of live male specimens ofP. clarkiiand of dead (processed)female specimens. Biological invasion resulting in new established popula-tions ofP. clarkiiin the wild would therefore be impossible. Transformation ofP. clarkiiinto an economic resource with minimum environmental hazardseems feasible