Conserving our native crayfish

Buglife are working to help conserve the White-clawed crayfish. The White-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) is one of the UK’s largest freshwater invertebrates and is our only native crayfish. It was once a widespread and common species in English and Welsh rivers, but has suffered severe declines. Many populations of White-clawed crayfish have already been lost and most of those remaining in streams and rivers are at risk of loss in future. The decline has been caused by non-native invasive crayfish species such as the American Signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus), the spread of a disease known as crayfish plague, habitat degradation and pollution.

Buglife are working with the Avon Wildlife Trust and the Environment Agency to find safe havens for this threatened species. To date we have moved ‘at risk’ populations in southwest England into safe havens which are free of non-native crayfish species and isolated which will reduce the risk of non-native crayfish being introduced to the site. The project is part of the South West Crayfish Partnership

Buglife have also been working with the Environment Agency on the National Crayfish Website (www.crayfish.org.uk). This is a ‘one-stop-shop’ for crayfish information for both professionals and members of the public alike.

Our previous work on White-clawed crayfish involved searching for safe havens in aggregate sites, both active and inactive sites.