MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is testing the commercial viability of Australian redclaw crayfish, a high-value species it hopes could help reshape local aquaculture.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel on Thursday led the ceremonial stocking of 14,000 craylings, launching an on-farm verification trial to determine whether raising redclaw crayfish in Philippine freshwater ponds is commercially viable.

“We want our farmers to grow profits, not just crops,” Tiu Laurel said. “With proper observance of good aquaculture practices and biosecurity measures, the culture of Redclaw crayfish offers huge potential that could sustainably transform fish farming in the Philippines,” he added.

The project is being rolled out by the DA–Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in partnership with the private sector, and is aimed at developing aquaculture guided by science, market demand, and strict controls.

The initiative follows the issuance of BFAR Administrative Circular No. 001, series of 2025, which sets the country’s first national guidelines for culturing Australian redclaw crayfish. Under the rules, broodstock and craylings must be sourced from certified local hatcheries or BFAR facilities to manage biosecurity risks.

BFAR’s prototype hatchery at the National Freshwater Fisheries Technology Center serves as the program’s core facility, with 30 female and 10 male breeders supported by 200 future breeders. The hatchery can produce up to 5,000 craylings per cycle across three to five cycles annually, with another 300 craylings allocated for tank-based trials.

The on-farm trial in Nueva Ecija will run for four to five months across four ponds, testing two stocking densities of 10 and 15 crayfish per square meter. Data on survival rate, growth, feed efficiency, and returns will be used to assess the species’ commercial potential.

BFAR said that if results are favorable, the findings will be translated into full technology demonstrations and packaged protocols for farmer training and wider adoption in suitable inland areas.

The DA said the project reflects a cautious and strategic approach to developing redclaw crayfish aquaculture, balancing its premium market value with biosecurity, ecological, and market considerations through controlled trials and partnerships.