The icon of Australian childhood, the humble yabby, could soon rise in status becoming a sought after delicacy by the gourmet diner. Deterioration of farm profits has dictated that farmers diversify and use all available resources on their properties - both land and water.
Aquaculture is an ideal option.
A bigger, faster growing yabby could increase profit margins considerably. Found throughout the country, yabbies are Australia's most abundant native freshwater crayfish. They are tough and can tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions. The research being carried out by Dr Purvis and his team is aimed at establishing the best wild strains for aquaculture. Part of this involves discovering how heritable the desired characteristics are - such as fast growth and large meaty tails.