(Au) Cold baths offer leg-up for lobster profits

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November 14, 2002

Cold baths offer leg-up for lobster profits

The West Australian

 

By Michael Zekulich

 

LEGLESS lobsters are costing the WA crayfishing industry millions of dollars

a year.

 

Now a unique research project has come up with a possible answer - a brief

bath in icy water.

 

Crayfish with all their legs are highly sought after for the lucrative live

export trade and those unsuitable for live export must be downgraded to

other uses such as being frozen or boiled.

 

Geraldton Fishermen's Co-operative research and quality manager Glen

Davidson said five seconds in cold water on the boat stunned the animals,

stopping a violent reaction during handling that resulted in legs being

lost. He said estimates put the loss of the legs alone - 80 tonnes a year -

at about $2.5 million.

 

A number of commercial boats will use the cold water treatment when the

season starts tomorrow.

 

" We believe the method will cut losses by 80 per cent based on our research

and some commercial trials, " Dr Davidson said.

 

He estimates the cost of installing a cold water process on boats at about

$5000, which would be returned in two to three seasons with the improved

product.