Under the scenarios and assumptions simulated here,
inclusion of Australian redclaw crayfish in tilapia
culture can have potentially positive economic outcomes.
A polyculture strategy using redclaw with tilapia
can help to increase profitability, shorten investment
return time and attenuate risk from changes in tilapia
sale price and production costs, especially when
relatively short return periods are used.
Polyculture substantially improved profitability at
the three studied time horizons in comparison to tilapia
monoculture. Tilapia mortality and the consequent
decrease in biomass were compensated for by income
from crayfish sales and a reduction in production costs.
Tilapia monoculture at the 5-year time horizon was not
profitable.