Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L01040:body:0:p9
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L01040
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 24065–26950

few giant freshwater crayfish of a size indicating sexual maturity being found (Growns 1995; Hamr 1996; Lynch & Blühdorn 1997). However, in recent years ongoing monitoring efforts have recorded larger specimens with increasing regularity (Doran & Richardson 2008). Whilst earlier records of the species had individuals weighing in at five kilograms or greater, by the late 1990s individuals weighing two or three kilograms were considered large (Doran & Richardson 2008). In January 1998, a fishing ban was imposed for the species, and there is some evidence to suggest that population demographics have been improving since this time, with records of individuals weighing four kilograms and recaptures of marked individuals becoming increasingly common (Doran & Richardson 2008).

3.3 Biology and ecology
The giant freshwater crayfish is a slow-growing crustacean, with females reaching sexual maturity at a carapace length of approximately 119 mm and weight of approximately 550 g, around 14 years, and males reaching sexual maturity at a carapace length of approximately 76 mm and weight of approximately 300 g, thought to be around nine years (Hamr 1996). The species also has relatively low fecundity (TSS 2006), with females mating and spawning biennially in autumn, after a summer moult (Hamr 1990a, 1992, 1996). Gestation takes about nine months, with females carrying the eggs on their tail through winter (TSS 2006). The number of eggs produced by a female is proportional to its size, and egg counts range from 224–1300 per female (Hamr 1996). After hatching in mid-summer, young giant freshwater crayfish stay attached to the female until autumn (Hamr 1996). The species is long-lived and has been known to live up to 60 years of age (Bryant & Jackson 1999).
The dispersal patterns and migratory activities of the giant freshwater crayfish are largely unknown; however, the species generally appears to have two patterns in their movement and behaviour:
        * residential periods, during which time animals may be inactive, or undertake small-scale movements, usually returning to a specific "home site"; and
        * less common large-scale movements, after which the animal takes up residence in a new "home site" or pool, or returns to its initial "home site" (Webb & Richardson 2004).

A study involving radio telemetry tracking of eight giant freshwater crayfish showed periods of inactivity lasting from 1‑10 days, interspersed with movements involving travel over relatively large distances, including one giant freshwater crayfish moving over 700 m in a single night and a total distance of 2.2 km recorded for one giant freshwater crayfish over the five month study period (Webb & Richardson 2004). This species is also known to walk over land (Horwitz 1991).
The main food of the giant freshwater crayfish is decaying wood and its associated microbes, though