AboutUs

About Sonja and Andreas

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; Click here to read about one of his research projects). We migrated to Western Australia with the intention to build up and run a aquaculture (Marron) farm (hence our business name “Koonac”). However, the Department of Fisheries (DOF) of WA refused to grant us an aquaculture licence for Marron (Cherax canii). After two years of frustrating attempts to find an agreement with the DOF, we gave up and started farming goats (click here to read the full "Hairy Marron Story").

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 restricted to Cherax glaber, Cherax plebejus, and Cherax preissii.

Koonacs are usually very dark in colour, ranging from blue-black to mottled brown-black. They are easily identified by their broad chelipeds (claws) which are serrated at the inside edge..