Department of Fisheries
Mandurah District Office
Address: 15 Leslie Street, Mandurah WA 6210
Phone: 08 9535 1240
Website: www.fish.wa.gov.au

(Cherax tenuimanus)

Marron are the largest freshwater crayfish in the South West of WA.  Originally only found between Harvey and Albany, the range of marron has been extended by the ‘seeding' of rivers and irrigation dams with juvenile marron, along with their use in aquaculture ventures. Marron are now found in rivers and dams between the Hutt River (north of Geraldton) to east of Esperance.

Marron prefer sandy areas in rivers and dams, particularly where organic matter accumulates. Marron like areas that have lots of fallen trees and rocks but do not tolerate high salinity.

A Marron has five keels along their head, three pairs of short spines on the rostrum, two small spines on the telson and narrow, pincer-like chelipeds (claws). They range in colour from jet-black to brown or even cobalt-blue, a rare natural version now farmed for aquariums.

There are two marron species found in WA. Smooth marron are widespread and found in most rivers and dams of the South West. They are what most marroners have seen and captured and are the farmed aquaculture species.

Marron can grow more than 380 mm (total length) and they are usually measured from the tip of the rostrum to the back of their carapace. Details on the legal minimum size of marron is available here.

Recreational fishers in WA need a licence to catch marron, and can only fish for them during the open season (usually in January and February). A recreational fishing licence application can be obtained here.