All invaders must be eaten
- Thread starter den
- Start date
-
Hey Guest, Early bird pricing on the Summer Moot (29th July - 10th August) available until April 6th, we'd love you to come. PLEASE CLICK HERE to early bird price and get more information.
I've never seen any, let alone caught any. I was watching Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall last night, and i'm sure he pulled em out of the Kennet and Avon canal, using a chicken carcass. He's also caught them in his river at river cottage, and stoed them up untill he had enough for a meal.
I think they are getting pretty widespread now.Best give it a go and let us know how you get on.
Rich
I think they are getting pretty widespread now.Best give it a go and let us know how you get on.
Rich
The American Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) is really common in UK rivers, and is rapidly wiping out our native species of Crayfish - the White Clawed Crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes).
Signal Crayfish were mainly introduced into the UK in the 70's for the restaurant trade, with farmers commonly suplimenting their income by using watercourses through their land to breed signal crayfish. Over time, large numbers escaped from their fish farm enclosures and began to colonise local watercourses, infecting and dominating our native white-clawed crayfish. Recent surveys have identified substantial populations of white-clawed crayfish in northern and central England but, elsewhere, their numbers have declined enormously. Many of the remaining populations are in a precarious position due to their close proximity to signal crayfish populations.
The native crayfish (and all European species) are very susceptible to crayfish plague, caused by the fungus Apphanomyces astaci. Alien crayfish are much less vulnerable unless under stress but do act as carriers for the disease.
In a 500m stretch of the River Hamps in Staffordshire there were 1600 crayfish caught during a population survey and mass cull - plenty enough for a few good meals
This represented 45% of the total population in that 500m stretch. At present the only reliable way to reduce Signal crayfish populations is to carry out regular mass culls.
Apparently fishing for crayfish is legal but the most common methods of fyke nets and traps are illegal unless specifically authorised by local byelaws. Also it is an offence to use crayfish - dead or alive - as bait for fishing.
I'll try and find a link to a guide I've seen on identifying freshwater crayfish so no-one ends of eating any of our precious native species!
Signal Crayfish were mainly introduced into the UK in the 70's for the restaurant trade, with farmers commonly suplimenting their income by using watercourses through their land to breed signal crayfish. Over time, large numbers escaped from their fish farm enclosures and began to colonise local watercourses, infecting and dominating our native white-clawed crayfish. Recent surveys have identified substantial populations of white-clawed crayfish in northern and central England but, elsewhere, their numbers have declined enormously. Many of the remaining populations are in a precarious position due to their close proximity to signal crayfish populations.
The native crayfish (and all European species) are very susceptible to crayfish plague, caused by the fungus Apphanomyces astaci. Alien crayfish are much less vulnerable unless under stress but do act as carriers for the disease.
In a 500m stretch of the River Hamps in Staffordshire there were 1600 crayfish caught during a population survey and mass cull - plenty enough for a few good meals
This represented 45% of the total population in that 500m stretch. At present the only reliable way to reduce Signal crayfish populations is to carry out regular mass culls.Apparently fishing for crayfish is legal but the most common methods of fyke nets and traps are illegal unless specifically authorised by local byelaws. Also it is an offence to use crayfish - dead or alive - as bait for fishing.
I'll try and find a link to a guide I've seen on identifying freshwater crayfish so no-one ends of eating any of our precious native species!
Den wrote:
Stuart wrote:
No I havn't, but it shouldn't be that hard, especialy with a weekend hurdle making under your belt stuart.... all those withies.... A simple construction like the one on the left here
http://www.solwayfeeders.com/ProductsDetail1.asp?STOCK_CODE=2011
but made of hazel or willow should be o problem at all.
Apply those skills
Ed
Stuart wrote:
No I havn't, but it shouldn't be that hard, especialy with a weekend hurdle making under your belt stuart.... all those withies.... A simple construction like the one on the left here
http://www.solwayfeeders.com/ProductsDetail1.asp?STOCK_CODE=2011
but made of hazel or willow should be o problem at all.
Apply those skills
Ed
I was thinking about making a trap from withies. Maybe using a smaller design of this lobster pot. http://www.windrushwillow.com/pages/lobster_pots.html#
It dont look to far off making a basket.
It dont look to far off making a basket.
Similar threads
