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Crayfish - what's the problem?

The American Signal Crayfish was imported in the 1970s for the restaurant trade.  They cause a whole host of problems, not only for our native species (the White Claw Crayfish), but for rivers up and down the country.

They introduce a crayfish 'plague' which spreads amongst the natives, killing them and leaving only the American Signals behind.

The Signal crayfish is bigger and much more aggressive than the native species, which it out-competes, and can climb and walk considerable distances. They are damaging to plant, fish and invertebrate life and can have a devastating effect on river banks.

 

Can we get rid of them?

Unfortunately it is a difficult job getting rid of these 'alien' crayfish. Many have tried and failed,
due to the Signal Crayfish's incredible breeding rate, which makes eradication tricky. The best approach is to try and reduce their numbers to levels where they are not a nuisance. The most important thing is to prevent them from spreading any further.

Some leading scientific groups and conservationists feel any publicity is bad publicity, but with dedication and the right guidance there is progress to be made. Many also feel that the best and only way to save the native crayfish is to ban its sale.   

 

How can I help?
Trapping is considered the best plan of attack when attempting to deal with a crayfish problem. 
The important thing to remember is that it must be continuous and intensive. ALL crayfish must be removed and killed, no matter how small.  Leaving the small and taking the larger male crayfish could create a breeding frenzy.

It is great to want to make a difference to the crayfish problem in your area, but try and do it responsibly. Continual, aggressive trapping will reduce numbers - but if you stop the process, or engage in only occasional trapping, you may make things even worse as you will have altered the balance in that area of river.

Before you begin you will need a trapping licence from the Environment Agency. It is illegal to trap without one.

Unless previously agreed in writing with the Environment Agency, the opening or the entrance to any trap should not exceed 95mm in diameter. 

All traps with an entrance greater than 95mm, must be no more than 200mm, and must be fitted with an otter guard .

Although crayfish can be fun to catch and tasty to eat, it is a common misconception that there is money to be made out of trapping them.  In actual fact, trapping is a huge effort and the only results you will have are hopefully ones that dent the population. 

 

What do I do with the ones I catch?

Freezing is generally the preferred method of killing any crayfish you catch, and every last one caught must be killed.

Once you have removed them from the water, there is no going back and in actual fact it is illegal to put them back!

Although the large crayfish make a hearty meal, there is concern that the smaller crays will not get disposed of properly once
they are removed, which could allow them to spread into other water systems. ALL should be disposed of – large and small.

 

What next?

If you want to trap, you must first contact your local Environmental Agency. They will put you in touch with their fisheries officer who will know about the area and the river in question.

Remember, what may work for one river may not work for another. You must also have permission from the landowner.

 

Useful links

If you are interested to find out more about River Cottage, why not catch up on our previous series?

From Escape to River Cottage to A Cook on the Wild Side, River Cottage Road Trip to River Cottage: Gone Fishing, you'll find them all here

We have also put together a selection of River Cottage hampers for the kitchen and garden: packed full of organic seeds, useful gardening items, and River Cottage products specially selected from our Store, they're an ideal gift for the budding gardener or chef.