Panorama
 
 
 
 

CRAYFISH RESCUE BID BY ENVIRONMENT AGENCY


Environmental Panorama
International
August of 2006

8-Aug-2006 - The native white-clawed crayfish is to be given a helping hand by the Environment Agency in a bid to halt its dramatic decline.

Several hundred of the protected species, increasingly under threat from the more aggressive alien species, the American signal crayfish, are to be moved to a safe haven where it is hoped it will flourish.

The Environment Agency in the south-west, assisted by crayfish experts at Avon Wildlife Trust, is to undertake this unique rescue by transporting crayfish from the Bristol Avon and moving them to specially identified streams in the Mendips.

It is hoped that by re-establishing the native species in a particular area, free of the American crayfish, will help it to re-establish itself and increase in number. They will be caught from a threatened tributary of the Bristol Avon, in the Bt Brook catchment area near Chippenham and transported in prepared, cooled tanks to their new habitat in the Mendips.

The alien invaders were originally imported for food, but escaped into the wild where they now out-compete the smaller and less aggressive native white-clawed species. Signal crayfish also carry the fungal disease ‘crayfish plague’ to which native species have no immunity.

‘Non-native crayfish are bad news, not only do they push out our native crayfish they can carry the deadly crayfish plague which is responsible for wiping out these populations in large parts of the country,’ said Peter Sibley from the Environment Agency.

‘Moving the native crayfish to this new habitat should mean it will be able to flourish without being threatened by the American crayfish or wiped out by disease. The creation of a refuge population in this way has never been done before but we hope this rescue bid pays off.’

Craig Stenson, from Avon Wildlife Trust, says: ’This is the first time a translocation has been attempted – rather than a re-introduction. Other populations of native crayfish are under threat – like those in the River Frome and Wellow Brook, south of Bath – but in the By and Broadmead Brooks the situation is perilous.

‘The American crayfish are literally advancing downstream and if we do not take urgent action, will soon be munching their way through our crayfish. This rescue is in the nick of time.’

‘We’ve surveyed as many water courses as possible and found a catchment in North Somerset with a suitable habitat and water quality and one where there are no crayfish currently. We will move all our rescued crayfish to this first ark site and then, in a second move, take smaller numbers to new locations next year.’

Detailed investigations into interactions between crayfish and other species in the wild, and investigations into methods of controlling the non-native species has shown that unless action is taken, the native crayfish could be wiped out.

A plague on the Sherston Avon in the early 1980’s wiped out a large number of native crayfish and resulted in a major re-stocking programme. The disease again hit this part of the river in early 2006.

Peter Sibley said it was important not to harm the resident ecology when transferring the crayfish to new sites and exhaustive tests had been undertaken to assess the new habitat and ensure that there was a high water quality, tree cover with leaf litter, and rocks and boulders for refuge.

Notes to Editors:

To protect native species:
non-native species of fish or crayfish must not be introduced into waters in England and Wales except under licence

all removals, transfers and introductions of fish and crayfish to waters in England and Wales must be licensed by the Environment Agency
you must have an English Nature licence before handling white-clawed crayfish
If any native crayfish is caught inadvertently, it must be returned immediately to the water it came from
Briefing notes:

Avon Wildlife Trust owns and manages 37 local nature reserves and fosters a vision of local landscapes richer in wildlife, delivering a better quality of life for all. www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk

The Environment Agency plays a key role in protecting the white-clawed crayfish, in fulfilment of its role as ‘Contact Point’ for the species UK

Biodiversity Action Plan. A new national crayfish bye-law will enable the Environment Agency to authorise the use of crayfish traps throughout England & Wales. Authorisations will be subject to criteria and conditions depending on geographical location and purpose of trapping.

The primary reason for trapping native crayfish can only be for scientific or conservation purposes. In some circumstances, trapping of signal crayfish for fisheries management may be licensed. The native white clawed crayfish is a protected species by law.

Never use any crayfish as bait – it is illegal to take native crayfish from the wild or use them as bait. If non-native crayfish are used as bait this could spread crayfish plague and it is illegal.

Under both the Wildlife and Countryside Act and the Import of Live Fish Act, it is illegal to introduce non-native crayfish in England and Wales without a licence.
The Native British crayfish

breeds from the age of three-four years
females produce up to 200 eggs
young hatch from May to June
adults smaller than signal crayfish
can be identified by white or peach colouring under the claws
Invasive American Signal crayfish

breeds from the age of two (one in exceptional circumstances)
females produce up to 500 eggs
young hatch April to May
more aggressive than native crayfish
can be identified by bright red colouring under the claws and white patches on claw joints.
Paul Gainey

 
 

Source: Environment Agency – United Kingdom (http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk)
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