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Impact of introduced crayfish

The UK's only native freshwater crayfish has declined. During the 1980s the decline accelerated because a disease began to wipe out whole populations. Ecologists linked 'crayfish plague' with the escape to the wild of the American signal crayfish, introduced in the 1970s for farming. The signal crayfish is larger than the native species, reproduces more rapidly and is resistant to plague.

Besides spreading disease, signal crayfish can be a nuisance to fishermen and can damage river banks by burrowing. Ecological research on the impact of introduced crayfish has recently been used to persuade the authorities to introduce controls on crayfish farming.

Distribution of the introduced signal crayfish, up to 1995. Biological Records Centre, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology		The shading shows areas of Britain where the unlicensed keeping of signal crayfish is prohibited. Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have legislation which prohibits the importation of live crayfish. Environment Agency.

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