About us
 
We migrated from Switzerland to Western Australia in 2002. By training, we are both biologists, specialised in aquatic ecology. Before we left Switzerland, Sonja was working at the Water Supply Company of Zurich (WVZ), and Andreas at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG). We migrated to Western Australia with the intention to farm freshwater crayfish (hence our business name “Koonac”, see below). However, the Department of Fisheries of WA refused to grant us an aquaculture licence. After two years of frustrating attempts to find an agreement with the Bureaucracy, we gave up and started farming meat goats.

 

(Courtesy Chris Lukhaup)

 
Koonac is an Australian-English word, derived from the Aboriginal word gunag. Like Yabby, Koonac is often unspecifically used for freshwater crayfish. More specifically, however, the name Koonac is used for Cherax preissii (picture), C. glaber, and C. plebejus. Koonacs are usually very dark in colour, ranging from blue-black to mottled brown-black. They are easily identified by their broad claws, which are serrated at the inside edge.