There have at least 2 cookery programs about harvesting these beasties. A question-have these aliens made it to Scotland yet?
scanker said:I just posted on River Cottage about the signal crayfish on the F-word last night. I thought it a bit naughty not to mention the licence required to catch crayfish and also the fact that you should never (ever) put any Signal Crayfish back (perhaps if they're too small) as you are technically introducing a non-native species and can be prosecuted. That said, they looked very tasty.
weekend_warrior said:Actually, he did mention you need a license... But not about returning..
dommyracer said:So they're considered a pest but you need a licence to catch them? That seems a bit odd, I would have thought they would be happy people were pulling them out of the water...
weekend_warrior said:Actually, he did mention you need a license... But not about returning..
scanker said:Fair enough - must have missed that. I think that EA licence is postcode dependent, but you should also have a valid rod licence too.
source: http://www.defra.gov.uk/fish/freshwater/crayfish.htm#trappingNATIONAL CRAYFISH TRAPPING BYELAWS
On 1 June 2005, the Environment Agency introduced a package of crayfish Byelaws that will allow them, under certain conditions, to approve the trapping of crayfish in England and Wales. In the past only the Thames Region of the Environment Agency had the authority to allow this activity.
The hope is that the byelaws will aid in the control non-native populations, and where appropriate, commercially exploit them. They also hope that these byelaws will go some way towards protecting the remaining native crayfish populations.
If you are thinking of trapping crayfish you should bear in mind that there are a number of conditions that need to be met. Permission to trap will be dependent on local situations, in particular the presence of the native crayfish. The EA will also take into account the possible detrimental effect that trapping could have on other species, such as protected animals like otters and water voles. Many water courses go through private properties and it will be your responsibility to obtain the permission of the landowner before you commence. You should also try and ensure that the traps are inspected every 24 hours, and disinfected after use.
You should also be aware that if you reintroduce the caught crayfish into any other waters, without the required licence, you could be liable for prosecution under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and this could result in a heavy fine.
We would strongly advise you to seek advice from your local Environment Agency Officer before you make an application.
Crayfish trapping advice packs are available from the National Fisheries Laboratory 01480 483968. Further information on these byelaws can be found on the Environment Agency website.
scanker said:Crikey. Wrong again. I'd better get the information pack! At least one in that programme was caught with a rod though (or did I mis-see that as well? ).
scanker said:Am I right in presuming that you would find signal crayfish in areas with the postcodes on the above linked list and areas not on that list don't yet have a signal population?
scanker said:But the list is of areas where a licence is not required.
The licence list of postcodes is areas where you do not need a licence to keep crayfish. It means being able to take them home after catching them. The new byelaw allows individual water authorities to grant licences to trap crayfish on a location by location basis (so the postcodes indicate those areas already infested with non-native crayfish but does not mean there are no native crayfish present). They are two separate issuesscanker said:Am I right in presuming that you would find signal crayfish in areas with the postcodes on the above linked list and areas not on that list don't yet have a signal population?
source: Environmental Agency - TrappingThe byelaw changes restrict accidental or deliberate transportation of alien crayfish and crayfish plague, whilst still allowing the legitimate trapping of the crustaceans.
Permission to trap crayfish will be dependant on the local situation in particular the presence of the native white claw crayfish.
dommyracer said:So they're considered a pest but you need a licence to catch them? That seems a bit odd, I would have thought they would be happy people were pulling them out of the water...