Invasion
Invasion Description
1st Record: Hebron (Worcester County)/MD/Wicomico River drainage (1981, Associated Press 1986; Kilian et al. 2009)
1st Watershed Record: Patuxent National Wildlife Research Center/MD/Patuxent River drainage (1963, Norden 1995, personal communication; Killian et al. 2009, introduced as wildlife food)
Geographic Extent
Hebron (Worcester County)/MD/Wicomico River drainage (Associated Press 1986); Lorton (Fairfax County)/VA/unnamed stream (Potomac Drainage) (1992, USNM 192902, US National Museum of Natural History collections); King William County/VA/Cohoke Mill Creek, Pamunkey Drainage (1972, USNM 192902, US National Museum of Natural History 2007); MD/Patuxent River (established and common in Patuxent National Wildlife Research Center, and is probably widespread through the freshwater Patuxent drainage; Norden 1995; Kilian et al. 2009); MD/Mattawoman Creek (1989-2007, Killian et al. 2010); Charles County/MD/Mallows Bay-Wades Bay, Potomac River (2006, Killian et al. 2009; Killian et al. 2010); Charles County/MD/Nanjemoy Creek (2006, Killian et al. 2010); Kent County/MD/Fairlee Creek (2006, Killian et al. 2009; Killian et al. 2010); Queen Annes County/MD/Corsica River (1989-2007, Killian et al. 2009; Killian et al. 2010); Dorchester County/MD/Fishing Bay tributaries (1989-2007, Killian et al. 2009; Killian et al. 2010); MD/Rewastico Creek Nanticoke River (1989, Killian et al. 2009); Somerset County/MD/Manokin Branch (2006, Killian et al. 2009); MD/Pocomoke River (2006, Killian et al. 2009; Killian et al. 2010)
Vectors
| Level | Vector |
|---|---|
| Probable | Fisheries Accidental (not Oyster) |
| Alternate | Scientific Escape |
| Alternate | Pet Release |
Regional Impacts
| Economic Impact | Fisheries | |
| Aquaculture of P. clarkii began on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in 1981. By 1986, commercial crayfish farming had become widespread in ponds on the lower Delmarva peninsula in MD and VA. The number of farmers grew from about 8 to about 45 between 1980 and 1986. The 1986 harvest was expected to be 12,000 lbs, selling at an average wholesale price of $2.10/lb, or ~ $25,000. The crayfish were sold locally and also exported. Most of the crop goes to Baltimore restaurants (Associated Press 1986). By 2009, only two operations were known in Maryland, although some may be unregistered (Kilian et al. 2009). | ||