Murray Crayfish now nationally listed in Australia to aid their recovery

In BIG conservation news – the Murray Crayfish (Euastacus armatus) has officially been listed as Vulnerable under the EPBC Act 1999 (Date effective 05-Mar-2025).

The second largest crayfish in the world (second to the Tasmanian giant freshwater crayfish), is now protected under national environmental law. Previously this species was listed as threatened or protected in every state it occurred in, but was not recognised nationally. This is despite significant declines in numbers and distribution, and its extinction in the SA portion of the Murray in the mid-1980s, prior to our recent reintroductions.

So exactly what does this mean?

You have probably heard some plant and animal species referred to as threatened. Now the iconic Murray Crayfish has been officially recognised as a threatened species under Australia’s National Legislation, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999. The EPBC Act is a legal framework that helps provide protection, and justify funding of conservation measures to recovery those the species and ecological communities that are listed. It is good news for the conservation of this species, as it will now be afforded greater protection and a more coordinated recovery effort can be made, including the creation of a national recovery plan, and official conservation advice.

Ongoing efforts are required to help this beautiful iconic species including managing and mitigating threats, ongoing research and monitoring. NGT have been working hard to help conserve the Murray Crayfish across its existing range for the past 15 years.

Now in collaboration with the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board and other partners, we are bringing them back to SA, with early signs of success. You may have read last month’s article about our reintroduction of baby Murray Crays or some of our previous articles about SA reintroductions.