Alexandra Wales - 8-Nov-2007
- The Environment Agency are appealing to
local people to help stamp out the use of
illegal traps set in rivers which are threatening
protected wildlife such as otters, water
voles and crayfish.
Illegal traps are being set in the North
East of England and a trap recovered recently
from the River Blyth contained an otter
which had drowned as a result of being trapped
in it. Similar illegal traps have been found
in other areas of the country.
Trapping in rivers requires a licence from
the Environment Agency which is only granted
if the Agency is convinced that the trapping
does not pose a threat to protected wildlife.
At present, licences for crayfish trap licenses
traps are only granted for scientific monitoring
purposes.
Environment Agency wildlife officer Rachael
McFarlane said: “We only licence traps of
the correct design, and where they are placed
in appropriate locations. The trap we found
recently had too large an entrance which
allowed the otter to enter when attracted
either by the bait or a fish in the trap.
Once it had entered the trap it could not
escape and sadly drowned.”
Illegal traps also pose threats to other
rare species such as water voles and crayfish.
Traps should have small escape holes in
the top to allow water voles that enter
them to swim out and illegal traps often
don’t. A major threat to the Region’s important
crayfish populations is the spread of crayfish
plague. Introducing traps that may have
been used in other rivers risks spreading
this disease. Unfortunately the recent interest
in wild food may be encouraging people to
trap crayfish without knowing the dangers
that they are causing.
Environment Agency team leader Jim Heslop
added: “Wild food shouldn’t be at the expense
of our wildlife heritage. We will not grant
licenses for traps to catch crayfish for
consumption in the North East Region. People
should be aware that our enforcement staff
are on the look out for these traps and
if caught, offenders will be prosecuted.
Everyone can help by keeping their eyes
open on the riverbank. If you see a trap
let the Environment Agency know so that
it can be checked out.”
Notes to Editors
1. Northumberland has an internationally
important population of White Clawed Crayfish;
a species which is threatened with extinction
in England. White Clawed Crayfish are killed
by crayfish plague. The plague is present
in some rivers in the North East. If traps
are moved between rivers the plague could
be attached to the traps resulting in its
spread. If plague reaches rivers like the
Wansbeck the native population of White
Clawed Crayfish will become extinct.
2. All trapping in rivers requires a licence
under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries
Act 1975. If Signal Crayfish are caught
they must be killed. Non-native crayfish
cannot be kept, or released back into the
wild. To do so is an offence under the Wildlife
and Countryside Act. If White Clawed Crayfish
are inadvertently caught they would be handling
a protected a species without the necessary
license from Natural England. These activities
may result in prosecution by the Environment
Agency, and a fine of up to £5000
with a maximum penalty of three months in
prison.
3. Not all traps are illegal, the Environment
Agency licenses crayfish trapping in the
North East for monitoring for scientific
purposes and eel trapping. If you see a
crayfish or eel trap that does not have
a tag visible please do not move it and
contact the Environment Agency immediately
on 0800 807060.
Photograph
A photograph of Environment Agency wildlife
officer, Rachael McFarlane with the illegal
trap and otter skeleton is available from
the press office by calling 0113 231 2381.
+ More
Environment Agency urges vigilance on the
Eastern and South Coast of England
National Press Office - 8-Nov-2007 - The
Environment Agency is warning people living
along the North Eastern, Eastern and South
Coast of England to get ready for possible
flooding.
The warning comes as Met Office forecasts
suggest that a combination of north-westerly
winds exceeding 50 m.p.h., low pressure
and high tides could lead to severe flooding
in the east coast of England in the early
hours of Friday (9h November) morning and
during the afternoon. Areas at greatest
risk are the Broads and the coast south
of Great Yarmouth including Lowestoft and
Felixstowe.
Barbara Young, Chief Executive of the Environment
Agency said: “We are really concerned that
the current weather conditions over the
North Sea combined with high tides could
cause some significant flooding on the coast.
“Environment Agency officers are out on
the ground monitoring the situation, preparing
for any flooding and advising and warning
the people affected. Although the main area
of concern is in East Anglia, the area that
could be affected stretches from Immingham
in Humberside right down to Margate in Kent.
“We have already made more than 12,500
calls direct to individuals effected through
our Flood Warnings Direct system but we
are urging people to be vigilant listen
to local news reports and check our website
or call Floodline 0845 988 1188 for the
latest flood situation. Its also a good
idea to check on elderly relatives and neighbours
to see if they are okay.”
Although precise highest water times are
hard to predict, as the weather and its
effects move south the Environment Agency
is currently predicting that the highest
water levels will be:
Immingham (Humberside) – around 04.30am
East Anglian coast along the Broads coast,
Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft between 0700
and 0800 am – there is potential for flooding
further south of these areas as the tidal
surge moves south
North Kent Coast – although the likelihood
of flooding is expected to be low, highest
water is expected around 1030 and midday
tomorrow (Friday) am
Police command centres known as Gold controls
are operating in the affected areas and
will consider whether evacuations will be
needed.
On the Thames, as a precaution, the Environment
Agency will be closing the Thames Barrier
on Thursday evening (8th).
Andy Batchelor, Thames tidal flood risk
manager, said: “Our 24-hour control room
constantly monitors weather situations further
up the coast and currently the forecast
levels require us to close the Thames Barrier,
to allow it to perform its role and prevent
flooding in the capital. This is a standard
procedure for us when a tidal surge comes
up the Thames combined with high flows in
the river.
“These closures highlight just how necessary
the Thames Barrier is to help reduce the
risk of flooding in London and serve as
a reminder to us all that living in the
flood plain is never without risk. We are
continuing to monitor the weather and tidal
situation closely and we will close the
Thames Barrier again should we need to protect
the 1.25 million people living and working
in London’s floodplain.”
Information and advice on Flood Warnings
is available from Floodline on 0845 988
1188 and from www.environment-agency.gov.uk
+ More
Environment Agency urges vigilance on the
Eastern and South Coast of England
National Press Offfice - 8-Nov-2007 - The
Environment Agency is warning people living
along the North Eastern, Eastern and South
Coast of England to get ready for possible
flooding.
The warning comes as Met Office forecasts
suggest that a combination of north-westerly
winds exceeding 50 m.p.h., low pressure
and high tides could lead to severe flooding
in the east coast of England in the early
hours of Friday (9h November) morning and
during the afternoon. Areas at greatest
risk are the Broads and the coast south
of Great Yarmouth including Lowestoft and
Felixstowe.
Barbara Young, Chief Executive of the Environment
Agency said: “We are really concerned that
the current weather conditions over the
North Sea combined with high tides could
cause some significant flooding on the coast.
"Environment Agency officers are out
on the ground monitoring the situation,
preparing for any flooding and advising
and warning the people affected. Although
the main area of concern is in East Anglia,
the area that could be affected stretches
from Immingham in Humberside right down
to Margate in Kent.
“We have already made more than 12,500
calls direct to individuals effected through
our Flood Warnings Direct system but we
are urging people to be vigilant listen
to local news reports and check our website
or call Floodline 0845 988 1188 for the
latest flood situation. Its also a good
idea to check on elderly relatives and neighbours
to see if they are okay.”
Although precise highest water times are
hard to predict, as the weather and its
effects move south the Environment Agency
is currently predicting that the highest
water levels will be:
Immingham (Humberside) – around 04.30am
East Anglian coast along the Broads coast,
Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft between 0700
and 0800 am – there is potential for flooding
further south of these areas as the tidal
surge moves south
North Kent Coast – although the likelihood
of flooding is expected to be low, highest
water is expected around 1030 and midday
tomorrow (Friday) am
Police command centres known as Gold controls
are operating in the affected areas and
will consider whether evacuations will be
needed.
On the Thames, as a precaution, the Environment
Agency will be closing the Thames Barrier
at 20.00 Thursday evening (8th).
Andy Batchelor, Thames tidal flood risk
manager, said: “Our 24-hour control room
constantly monitors weather situations further
up the coast and currently the forecast
levels require us to close the Thames Barrier,
to allow it to perform its role and prevent
flooding in the capital. This is a standard
procedure for us when a tidal surge comes
up the Thames combined with high flows in
the river.
“These closures highlight just how necessary
the Thames Barrier is to help reduce the
risk of flooding in London and serve as
a reminder to us all that living in the
flood plain is never without risk. We are
continuing to monitor the weather and tidal
situation closely and we will close the
Thames Barrier again should we need to protect
the 1.25 million people living and working
in London’s floodplain.”
Information and advice on Flood Warnings
is available from Floodline on 0845 988
1188 and from www.environment-agency.gov.uk
