A conceptual production model for freshwater crayfish pond culture incorporating detrital forage

A production model is presented for semi‐intensive freshwater crayfish culture ponds incorporating detrital forage. The conceptual model is developed from five submodels of trophic‐dynamic interactions within the pond ecosystem. The model includes microbially enhanced detrital forage (MEDF) produced from plant matter grown in the pond as a significant component of nutrition. The model is proposed as an aid to understanding pond‐based aquaculture techniques that rely upon manipulating the characteristics of MEDF. The significance of MEDF as a source of nutrition in aquaculture is discussed.