A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN SIGNAL CRAYFISH IN THE UK

MAFF introduced American Signal crayfish to this country in the mid 1970s because of their excellent eating qualities and in the belief that farming them would provide extra income for the farmers, and take the pressure off the widespread native White-clawed crayfish, then threatened by over-trapping and pollution. Government grants were made available to encourage estate owners and aquaculturists to engage in the project. The American Signal crayfish was soon well distributed across the countryside in managed lakes and ponds; pet shops and fish tanks; fishmongers and kitchens. That controlled situation did not last for long.

The market for live crayfish was limited, and still is, but try telling that to an American Signal crayfish. They liked it in the UK and bred whenever possible. They quickly established themselves all over the countryside in such numbers that farming them was uneconomical. Many a crayfish farm went bust. Then these abandoned crayfish too were often forced to spread out in search of food and they did this very successfully, sometimes using their ability to walk across land. One account tells of a late night encounter with a long procession of crayfish walking from an abandoned trout-farm pond and heading directly towards the nearby river. Similarly, pets, and excess stock from garden ponds, were frequently relocated to the nearest river, and, hey presto: it's an epidemic!

What an horrendous own goal by MAFF and the UK Government. No one had considered the fact that American Signal crayfish often carry a the crayfish plague (a.astaci), to which they are immune, but which kills our native species within weeks. As a result, over the last thirty years the White-clawed has been extensively wiped out by the American Signal crayfish such that just a few isolated locations now boast their presence. Furthermore, American Signal crayfish in such prolific numbers are thought to have a seriously depreciative affect on other aquatic life. They also damage the banks with their tunnelling.

ABOUT CRAYAWAY

Crayaway was established in 2003 by Bob Ring and is dedicated to the removal of American Signal crayfish from British waterways. Crayaway has been looking for a cost effective way to do this. The market in live crayfish is small and therefore of little help to the problem. New products, crucially combined with an improved public awareness, may hold the key.

We are licensed by the Environment Agency and consult with the EA, DEFRA. CEFAS, and as many other interested parties as possible.

We have a most unusual business dream for CRAYAWAY to go out of business due to lack of stock. This philosophy is the only sound way forward but does not quite tick all the right boxes on the banks' business advisers computer!