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Barron River Redclaw

Cherax quadricarinatus

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Happy Fish®
Journey & Timeline

Days

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02

Story of the fish

Barron River Redclaw Habits

Females carry hundreds of eggs beneath their tails

Barron River Redclaw Harvest

Earthen ponds mimic natural freshwater ecosystems

Barron River Redclaw Handling

Minimal stress and maximum freshness

Barron River Redclaw Taste

Good flavour starts from the pond

03

Story of the fisher-farmer

Rodney Ingersoll

"Aquaculture isn't just about growing food; it's about growing opportunities for people and communities."

Rodney has 30+ years of experience in environmental management, agriculture, aquaculture, conservation, and community development, and has dedicated much of his life to helping people and communities build sustainable livelihoods through responsible use of natural resources.

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His journey has taken him from university to the rainforests and remote communities of Papua New Guinea and Indigenous Australia, working with NGO’s, Government and Mining Industry before establishing Barron River Redclaw farm, where he now produces premium freshwater crayfish while promoting food security and environmental stewardship.

Rodney’s work has been recognised at the highest levels. He was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for distinguished service and contributions to communities in Papua New Guinea. Over his career, he has also received recognition from government agencies, industry organisations, and community groups for his leadership in conservation, sustainable development, environmental management, and community empowerment.

Rodney’s approach to farming is founded on a simple principle: work with nature rather than against it. At Barron River Redclaw Farm, this means maintaining healthy pond ecosystems, prioritising animal welfare, protecting water quality, and minimising environmental impacts while producing a premium seafood product. He believes that healthy water, healthy ecosystems, and healthy animals are the foundation of both sustainability and profitability.

What sets Rodney apart is his unique combination of practical farming experience, scientific knowledge, and community development expertise. As an environmental scientist, educator, consultant, and aquaculture practitioner, he applies a systems-thinking approach to redclaw farming, continually improving husbandry, biosecurity, water management, and sustainability outcomes. His farm is also licensed to work with more than 200 species of fish and crustaceans, giving him a broad understanding of freshwater aquaculture systems and aquatic ecosystems.

Looking to the future, Rodney sees enormous opportunities for redclaw farming across northern Australia. He believes the industry can rapidly expand to play an important role in improving food security, creating regional jobs, supporting Indigenous enterprise development, and producing high-quality sustainable seafood for domestic and international markets. He is particularly passionate about helping Indigenous communities use aquaculture as a pathway to economic development, healthy food production, and greater self-sufficiency.

For Rodney, farming extends far beyond producing crayfish. Throughout his career he has worked extensively in conservation, environmental management, education, and community development, leading hundreds of projects across Australia and Papua New Guinea. He has managed large multidisciplinary teams, advised governments, supported traditional landowners, and worked with communities to build sustainable futures. Today he continues to share knowledge through training, mentoring, advocacy, public speaking, and industry leadership.

As he often says, “Aquaculture isn’t just about growing food; it’s about growing opportunities for people and communities.” Another principle that guides his work is, “If we look after the environment, the environment has no choice but to look after us” or, as he also likes to put it, “If you feed the fish, they feed you.” Through Barron River Redclaw Farm, Rodney aims to demonstrate that profitable farming, environmental responsibility, and community benefit can all work together to create a more sustainable future.

04

Story of the country

muluridji
biboohra, queensland

This Country provides an opportunity to serve community, grow healthy food, create livelihoods, and care for the environment all at the same time.

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Sustainability assessment criteria

Barron River Redclaw
Cherax quadricarinatus

Producer: Rodney Ingersoll
Harvest method: Inland earth-formed ponds
Location: Biboohra, QLD

SASAL Farmed Products v2023 Assessment Criteria
The assessed produce has been subject to a rigorous and independent assessment process from which it has been determined that this product meets SASAL Farmed Products Sustainability Criteria 2023

Assessed by the Sustainable Australian Seafood Assessment Limited (SASAL)

criterion 1

Disease and Parasite Risk

criterion 2

Siting and Cumulative Impacts

criterion 3

Wildlife Interactions

criterion 4

Sustainability of Wild-sourced Stock and Food Sources

criterion 1

Disease and Parasite Risk

Aim
Is there a low chance of farmed species spreading diseases or parasites to wild animals?

Risk of spreading disease and parasites to native species
No previous instances of disease at this farm. Redclaw are grown from high-quality sterilised hatchery stock. Crayfish are monitored for health and effective controls in place to reduce mixing with native species.

Input and use of chemicals
Chemicals and antibiotics are not used for the production of Redclaw by this farming operation. As stated on the Barron River Redclaw website: “We don’t ever inject or inoculate our Redclaw. We are a spray free fresh organic farm and don’t use any chemicals, herbicides, biocides, medicines or any other chemical nasties”.

Management effectiveness
This farm follows existing National Biosecurity Plan Guidelines developed for finfish. A site-specific biosecurity plan for Redclaw crayfish is planned to be developed in the future. Publicly available evidence regarding regulatory compliance from the management agency is unfortunately lacking.

criterion 2

Siting and Cumulative Impacts

Aim
Do fish farms avoid damaging important natural habitats or harming the surrounding environment over time?

Direct impact of infrastructure on habitats
The land and vegetation on this property are not highly susceptible to degradation or listed as a threatened ecological community. Although the land was cleared for development in the 1980s, native vegetation is currently being restored since the property changed ownership in 2022.

Near-field impacts of water and sediment pollution
The clay earth-formed ponds are not connected to local waterways, and impervious to groundwater leakage. The farm operates as a recirculating water system and biological wastes produced in the ponds are captured using biological filtration and/or utilised for agriculture.

Regional impacts
This self-contained inland aquaculture operation does not discharge or impact any waterways or groundwater.

Management Effectiveness
This farm follows and exceeds the environmental regulations required under their development application permit. However, there are no regular independent inspections to assess effectiveness or compliance regarding these regulations.

criterion 3

Wildlife Interactions

Aim
Is there a low chance of farmed species causing problems for wild animals or the environment if they escape or interact with the outside world?

Insignificant risk of wildlife interaction
No

Behavioural effects
No significant behavioural effects on wildlife as the Redclaw ponds are land-based and designed to exclude other wildlife using fences and nets.

Entanglements and incidental mortality
Wildlife mitigation practices (such as fencing and netting) have been refined over the years and do not result in entanglements and mortality of native wildlife such as birds and water rats.

Escapes, translocations and genetic impacts
Redclaw can be an invasive species outside of their native range. However, they are either native or already have well established populations across the local watersheds of the Barron River. Escapes are mitigated except for uncontrollable impacts such as 1:100 years flooding events.

Management effectiveness
This operation meets all regulations and exhibits high-quality, effective and proactive management of wildlife interactions.

criterion 4

Sustainability of Wild-sourced Stock and Food Sources

Aim
Are the wild fish used to breed or feed farmed species not being overfished or put under too much pressure?

Ongoing reliance on wild stocks for broodstock, juveniles or feed
No; there is no ongoing reliance on wild populations. Juveniles are sourced from a closed-life-cycle hatchery that does not rely directly on wild populations.

Wild stocks are sustainable
The cultured Redclaw originated from a selective breeding program using distinct genetic strains throughout the species natural range and are no longer harvested from wild stocks.

Food is from sustainable sources
A sustainable plant-based pellet feed was developed from university research and is now commercially produced in the region. Pellet feed is supplemented with other organically grown fruit and vegetables.

Fin

Barron River Redclaw Habits

The redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) is a large freshwater crustacean native to the tropical rivers, creeks, and billabongs of northern Australia and southern Papua New Guinea. It gets its name from the distinctive red patch found on the claws of mature males. For thousands of years, redclaw has been an important traditional food source for Indigenous Australians and is farmed globally due to its fast growth, excellent eating qualities, and ability to thrive in warm freshwater environments.

Redclaw are omnivorous scavengers that feed on aquatic plants, algae, insects, detritus, and small aquatic animals. They require clean, well-oxygenated water, shelter from predators, and stable temperatures between 24–31°C to grow successfully. One of their most unusual characteristics is their relatively peaceful nature compared with many other crayfish species, allowing them to be farmed at higher densities. Females can carry hundreds of eggs beneath their tails, and young crayfish hatch as miniature versions of adults. While redclaw populations remain common in many areas, habitat degradation, poor water quality, and invasive species can threaten wild populations.

Barron River Redclaw Harvest

At Barron River Redclaw Farm, harvesting begins long before the crayfish are removed from the water. Redclaw are carefully managed through regular pond monitoring, water quality testing, feeding, and stock assessments to ensure healthy growth and survival. Crayfish are selected for harvest when they reach market size, typically between 50 and 150 grams, depending on customer requirements. Harvesting generally occurs during the warmer months when growth rates are highest, although production can continue throughout much of the year in Far North Queensland’s tropical climate.

The farm uses baited traps, flow traps and selective harvesting techniques rather than draining ponds, allowing smaller crayfish to remain and continue growing. This reduces stress on the animals, minimises habitat disturbance, and maintains breeding populations within the ponds. Daily husbandry includes checking water quality, monitoring dissolved oxygen levels, maintaining pond infrastructure, controlling aquatic vegetation where necessary, and ensuring the crayfish receive a balanced diet from natural pond productivity supplemented with formulated feeds.

Immediately after harvest, the crayfish are sorted and graded according to size and quality. They are then cleaned, purged and placed into aerated holding tank systems to ensure they remain healthy and in excellent condition prior to sale. Live crayfish are carefully packed in insulated Styrofoam containers and transported with a block of ice under controlled conditions to maintain freshness and animal welfare.

Environmental protection is a key part of the farming operation. Barron River Redclaw Farm uses earthen ponds that mimic natural freshwater ecosystems, promoting biodiversity and reducing the need for chemical inputs. Water is managed responsibly to minimise discharge impacts, and the selective harvesting system helps maintain healthy pond ecology. By producing high-quality freshwater crayfish locally, the farm contributes to sustainable food production while protecting the surrounding environment and natural resources.

Barron River Redclaw Handling

At Barron River Redclaw Farm, handling is one of the most important stages in maintaining the premium quality of live redclaw crayfish. Once harvested, the crayfish are carefully placed in baskets, protected from the sun with lids and transferred into aerated holding tanks where they are purged for a minimum of 2 days and allowed to recover from the harvesting process. This ensures they arrive at customers in excellent condition with minimal stress and maximum freshness.

After grading by size and quality, the redclaw are packed live into insulated Styrofoam containers with ventilation and a carefully managed cooling system. A frozen ice block is included to keep temperatures low during transport, slowing the crayfish’s metabolism and reducing activity without freezing them. Maintaining the correct temperature during transport is critical, as overheating can quickly reduce survival rates and product quality.

When handled correctly, live redclaw can remain healthy for several weeks after harvest. For best results, they should be kept cool, shaded, and well ventilated. One of the most important rules is never place harvested redclaw into fresh tap water. Without proper aeration and water quality management, crayfish can become stressed and die. Similarly, they should never be sealed in airtight containers, exposed to direct sunlight, or allowed to overheat during transport or storage.

Good handling practices directly influence the final eating quality of the product. Healthy, stress-free crayfish maintain firmer flesh, better flavour, and longer shelf life. The farm’s careful approach to cooling, packing, and transport helps ensure customers receive a premium live product.

As farm owner Rodney Ingersoll OBE explains, “The quality of redclaw is determined as much by how you handle them after harvest as how you grow them.” He also notes, “Keeping them cool, shaded and stress-free is the secret to delivering a premium live crayfish.” Another principle followed at the farm is simple: “Treat every crayfish as if it’s going straight to my family’s dinner table tomorrow.”

Through careful handling, temperature management, and attention to animal welfare, Barron River Redclaw Farm maintains the high quality and reputation of its live freshwater crayfish from pond to plate.

Barron River Redclaw Taste

The taste of Barron River Redclaw is often described as sweet, delicate, and exceptionally clean, with firm white flesh that combines the richness of lobster with the subtle sweetness of premium freshwater prawns. The tail meat is succulent and slightly buttery, while the claw meat offers a satisfying texture and mild, refined flavour that appeals to both seafood enthusiasts and first-time diners.

Much of this distinctive taste comes from the pristine environment in which the redclaw are raised. Barron River Redclaw Farm is located in the fertile agricultural region of Biboohra, near Mareeba in Far North Queensland, where warm tropical conditions, high-quality water, and natural pond ecosystems contribute to healthy crayfish growth. The ponds develop rich natural food webs containing algae, aquatic plants, insects, and microorganisms that supplement the crayfish diet and help create the clean, natural flavour for which redclaw is renowned.

The farm’s husbandry, biosecurity and environmental sustainability practices also play an important role in shaping taste and quality. Careful management of water quality, stocking densities, genetics, feeding programs, and animal welfare minimises stress and promotes steady growth. Redclaw that are healthy and stress-free produce firmer flesh, better texture, and a sweeter flavour profile. The farm’s purging process before sale further enhances eating quality by ensuring the crayfish are clean and in prime condition.

What sets Barron River Redclaw apart is its combination of sustainability, freshness, and provenance. Unlike imported seafood that may spend days or weeks in transport, Barron River Redclaw can be delivered live to customers, preserving its natural flavour and texture. The result is a premium Australian freshwater seafood product that reflects the unique environment of Tropical North Queensland.

As farm owner Rodney Ingersoll OBE explains, “Good flavour starts in the pond. Healthy water and healthy crayfish produce exceptional seafood.” He adds, “People are often surprised by how sweet and clean our redclaw taste. Once they try it, they keep coming back for more.” For Rodney, the goal is simple: “Produce the best-tasting freshwater crayfish possible while being the most careful environmental steward, working with nature- that’s makes it all possible.”