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Email the author (Login required) Culturing freshwater crayfish Samastacus spinifrons: a new alternative for diversifying Chilean aquaculture?
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3856/vol38-issue2-fulltext-10
Abstract
The freshwater crayfish Samastacus spinifrons, is one of six species of the Family Parastacidae (Crustacea, Decapoda, Astacidea) inhabiting freshwaters in Chile from the Aconcagua River to the Taitao Peninsula, and the only one that is currently considered attractive for national aquaculture. In this article, we review the potential of this species for aquaculture with commercial or restocking purposes. For this, we analyze: a) the species' biological advantages and disadvantages in an eventual situation of confined culture; b) previous culturing experiences carried out in Chile, with an emphasis on their respective contributions; and c) the causes that were likely to have prevented the consolidation of culturing this species in Chile. Finally, the above analyses provided the basis for our proposal of the most appropriate way to culture S. spinifrons.
