Catching Crayfish

vl2588

Eating signal crayfish is good as they kill our native (and endangered) crayfish by transmitting a fungal disease (for people who don't want to click on links!).

Personally (and I am a vegetarian by the way) I think this is a pretty good reason to eat something! I am certain it is greener than eating a (bit of a) cow or a chicken as well!

Traceyy

Hi There,

I am a countryside ranger and work along two stretches of river. It is correct that Signal crayfish are a non native aggresive competer to our rare and protected white clawed crayfish. Trapping and eating the signal crayfish is great - as long as it is done responsibly.

We have had issues on our rivers where traps have been set and forgotten about, or traps have been set in environmentally sensitive areas. This has caused our native crayfish to have been killed. I know of one instance of an an entirely inapproriate trap being left in the river, an otter tried to eat the crayfish and ended up drowing in the trap.

Could I please stress that while this practise is welcome, can it please be completed correctly. Check out the correct traps to use, have licences and please check with the local land owner or ranger if it is ok. They shoud be able to advise of an appropriate place - away from sensitive species, to irradicate the little blighters! And at least if the responsible authority is aware of the practise we won't waste our time removing unauthorised traps.

I am sure everyone on this forum is fully aware of these points.

Sorry for being a geek!