Written By: E.A. Press Officer
On Date: 8/8/2005
A colony of the rare white-clawed crayfish, Britain's only native species of crayfish, has been wiped out, reported The Environment Agency today (Wednesday). Earlier this month hundreds of crayfish were found dead on the River Dove in Derbyshire - a fishing spot immortalised by Isaac Walton and Charles Cotton in the Compleat Angler. Laboratory reports have now confirmed the cause as crayfish plague.
The native white-clawed crayfish is already an endangered species and populations are declining. It is no match for its invasive foreign cousin, the American Signal crayfish, which was originally introduced into this country for food, but escaped into the wild where they outcompete the smaller and less aggressive native white-clawed species. Signal crayfish carry the fungal disease 'crayfish plague' to which native species have no immunity and any remaining native crayfish downstream of the outbreak are unlikely to survive.
Fisheries and Recreation Team Leader, Phil Wormald, said:
"This is a tragedy for one of our rare native species. The deadly crayfish plague is responsible for wiping out native crayfish populations in large parts of the country.
"This outbreak highlights the importance of protecting native crayfish populations and preventing the spread of diseases between river catchments. We may never know how the disease was introduced into the River Dove but there are measures that people can take to help us prevent such an ecological disaster happening again".
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
· you must return any native crayfish caught inadvertently, to the water it came from
The fungal spores of crayfish plague spores can survive for up to two weeks in water, but can be killed by drying or disinfecting. Introducing signal crayfish into water previously free of the disease can spread crayfish plague. It can also spread on people's wet footwear and equipment. Anglers have a key role in helping to reduce the risk of spreading the disease by:
· drying, or disinfecting any boots or nets before moving between rivers. It is best to avoid fishing different rivers on the same day
· not using any crayfish as bait (this is illegal)
Advice is available by calling 08708 506506 and online at the Environment Agency's fisheries web pages: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/fish
ENDS
Media enquiries: 020-7863 8710 (five lines), or outside normal office hours, please contact the National Duty Press Officer on pager no. 07659 176157.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
§ The affected stretch of the River Dove runs from Hartington to Milldale.
§ The Environment Agency plays a key role in protecting the white-clawed crayfish, in fulfillment of its role as 'Contact Point' for the species UK Biodiversity Action Plan.
§ The native white clawed crayfish is a protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
§ Native crayfish are susceptible to crayfish plague, which is carried by signal crayfish, which are not susceptible to the disease.
§ Never use crayfish as bait - it is illegal to take native crayfish form the wild or use them as bait.
§ The introduction of non-native crayfish anywhere in England and Wales is an offence.
The Crayfish
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
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
Signal crayfish dominate in the south and east of the country. In the last decade, native crayfish strongholds have shrunk towards the north.
Plague crushes crayfish colony on Izaak Walton fishing hotspot