The effects of increasing levels of dietary soybean lecithin (SL)on growth, ovarian development, tissue ultrastructure and fatty acid-binding proteins (FABP) mRNA expression(initial body weight 25.64 g±1.53 g), was investigated over 8 weeks. Five treatments were applied as 0% (Diet 1), 1% (Diet 2), 2% (Diet 3), 4% (Diet 4)2% SL had a significantly higher gonadosomatic index (GSI) than those fed with Diets 1 and 2 , and the hepatosomatic index (HSI) showed a decreasing trend with increasing levels of dietary SL>0.05). With increasing percentages of dietary SL, the hepatopancreatic lipid droplets increased in number and size and the structure and texture was more complete and evenly distributed. The ovarian lipid droplets and yolk granules also increased in number and size. Higher dietary SL yielded higher hepatopancreatic and ovarian FABP mRNA expression. Our results suggest that dietary SL has a positive effect on ovarian development in redclaw crayfishbroodstock, and at least 2% SL should be supplemented in broodstock diets to enhance ovarian maturation during aquaculture.