Crayfish Regulations

This is a very bad idea. The risks associated with this species becoming invasive are too great. Colorado should be coming up with more measures to protect the valuable ecosystems and species within the state, rather than allow for methods to destroy them.

I would like to see Red Swamp Crayfish importation allowed for human consumption. I agree that regulations are necessary to prevent this invasive species from entering our waterways. We should be able to come up with plan to deter fisherman from using this species as live bait by way of hefty fines, revoking licenses, required warnings accompanying shipments/orders, etc.

Crayfish should be allowed to be imported for consumption only. Implement a permit system to help regulate.

Getting crayfish shipped for food consumption should be allowed. Releasing into the wild should be prohibited. We should not have crayfish farms in CO since its pretty much inevitable they will find their way into our waterways.

I am strongly opposed to allowing the importation of red swamp crayfish (or any other non-native invasive species) into the State of Colorado for any purpose. These invaders should not be allowed to be reared in aquaculture facilities within the state either. Please add them to the prohibited species and ANS lists ASAP (and enforce that list) for the protection of the state's aquatic resources, outdoor recreation, and the economy.

Hello - thank you for opening this topic up to public comment. Based on the number of plant and animal invasive species introduced the state over the past 200 years, I strong urge you to not approve this one. The value to a few individuals to whom this is valuable is small compared to potential harm it could cause to our river and lake ecosystems. Particularly in Routt County we are already facing non-native species challenges in both in our waterways and on our land. We should not add another. It is arrogant for us to think we can predict the environmental impact this will have, when history shows us, REPEATEDLY, that we are not good at it, and in many cases it causes significant harm. The risk is not worth the reward, as cray fish are not a major food source for the state, nor is it a major industry, nor leisure/recreational activity (diving for crawfish was something fun we did as kids, but that's about it). Thank you for considering my opinion.

100% IN FAVOR of allowing Red Swamp Crawfish in CO for consumption. Permit if necessary - shippers and recipients are happy to do this and you could use this process to educate about proper handling and laws/fines regarding release. Several other states do it flawlessly. Check with OR - they've been doing it for years. The VAST majority of crawfish being shipped into CO is for consumption - and I assure you they are not the ones releasing them into your waters. So, to punish those seems way off base....efforts should be made to educate/enforce those who are contributing to your potential issue. Enormous economic impact for CO and LA as well...

I think allowing the importation of live crayfish from other states to Colorado is a bad idea. With the problems we have had with invasive species of all types the potential damage and cost that could result from such importation outweigh the the benefits as I see it. Prevention is a much more effective and cost effective process than cure. If you consider the damage to wildlife caused by invasive species I don't see how we can in good conscience think otherwise. There might be a way to do this with minimal risk but I don't think we are currently capable of this. I'm sure many of these crayfish will come from aquaculture operations and how will we know they are safe exporters? Sometimes it is not the organism we import that is the problem sometimes it is. Remember Whirling disease that came with the imported fish, or Cheatgrass that came with the Chukars, the tumbleweed that came with Asian immigrants, the Burmese pythons that are devastating native species in Florida started off as pets, the list goes on and on. The risk does not outweigh the benefits.
HokieHunter

There must be a common sense approach that allows for people to import and boil live crawfish for consumption, while keeping them out of our waterways. Don’t punish the responsible citizen of Colorado for the actions of the irresponsible ones.

Many of the comments here seem confused. Their statements sound like they think CPW is debating introducing Crawfish to Colorado waterways the way the are introducing wolves, which isn’t the case.

I’m 100% for only allowing people to import live crawfish for human consumption.

Please understand that crawfish have been imported into CO for decades, if not longer and it seems concerns over ecosystem comprise are non existent. Follow other state rules to safeguard and allow crawfish into CO.

For the people who do not import live crawfish for human consumption as well as those who are passionate about protecting the state waterways from any invasive species and are all for this regulation I understand your point of view. But to use the argument that if one person causes a problem then we should all be punished and eliminate the source is ridiculous. Just because I see cigarette butts all along the ground as trash doesn't mean they eliminate them. The people who say it isn't worth the risk aren't paying $10/pound or more to have them shipped in live. Anyone and I mean anyone, would have to go out of their way to introduce them into a waterway and would probably be purposely doing it which would mean any regulation such as this wouldnt matter anyway. I'm happy to have some system to be sure I'm only. using them for eating, but that really doesn't cure the problem of people purposely introducing invasive species to Colorado waterways. I am an avid fly fisherman and don't want any invasive species, but for a old cajun man who ships in 10 pounds of live crawfish every other week I think this regulation is only penalizing those of us who are crawfish addicts. Anyone can come up with some domesday scenario where they get loose, but really what are the true probabilities of an aquarium breaking, then they get out of the house, then they travel to a waterway and survive the weather and predators.
Before you cast a vote on what's right for me, be sure to let me cast my vote for what's right for you. I am totally against this regulation that penalize the masses for the indiscretion of the few. If you want to protect Colorado waterways please use you time and energy on the proposed Unita crude oil railway proposal.
sincerely yours
Cajun man

So watching the CPW struggle with this is sad. I watched the failed attempts at Monument lake on highway 12. I would definitely find a way to embrace these critters as obviously they are here to stay. Allow to harvest for use as bait but must be dead or use only tail meat.

Red swamp crayfish can thrive in a wide range of habitats. Importing them to CO could lead to an accidental introduction that will likely harm native species (possibly through competition or predation. Their burrows could potentially lead to erosion as well). Colorado is all about our natural beauty and I don't think we should risk it.

We only want to eat these mudbugs. Yall already ruined this year's boils. If you have to regulate, male the restaurants or private folks get a permit for import/consumption.

After having done an extensive report on the rusty crawdad invasion of the great lakes and building a predictive model to forecast which areas were most susceptible, I say keep the mud bugs out of Colorado. No invasive and non-native species here please. It'll ruin our amazing ecosystems. Delicious, yes, but not worth the risk at all.

I'm adamantly against the introduction of any and all non-native species!!!

I only eat the crawfish and have no interest in using it for any other purpose. Banning it will just result in the idiots that release it getting it another way while punishing the majority of people who just want to eat them. Why not have a middle ground and just require a permit? It would need to be a quick turnaround for approvals.

Just let me eat my crawfish. For consumption only. C'mon man.

We need to allow seaplanes back into Colorado waterways. There is no zebra muscle concern and therefore no need to protect waterways if you plan to bring an invasive non-native species.

Absolutely no! Haven't we enough invasive species, due to people's desires for profit, self indulgence, or sentiment? Someone always gets careless, lazy, or cheap, or there's a natural disaster, allowing escapes. Also, crayfish are known borrowers, and climbers. Yes, raising them indoors in glass aquaria would work - until the tanks get accidentally broken, or lobbyists convince lawmakers that that method is too expensive, or someone swipes a few animals for personal use.
Importation purely for consumption would still be open to escapes, theft, etc. RSC are ready being imported illegally. Why would any sensible person believe that the same thinking (I can do what I want, regardless of the law) won't be seen once floodgates open? If people want to sell or consume them, frozen is always an option.