Crayfish trapping license

[Reverend Mark]

Having read back all the previous threads on this (often hotly debated) topic, I'm still not sure what the score is on obtaining a trapping license.

I'm one of a group of people locally who would want to trap and consume crayfish, and we have seen evidence of their presence in our local waterways (the Gade and Bourne specifically).

I've called the Fisheries Laboratories (or whatever they're called now) and whilst they've said they'll send me a pack, I'm wondering what the chances are that a license will be issued.

Has anyone actually applied for and been refused or granted a license to trap? Specifically interested in the Herts/Beds/Bucks/N. London areas, but curious about the rest of the country too..

Please don't let me be the start of a heated debate about the rights and wrongs again, I want to work within the law and with a sensible, sustainable and positive approach to this...

[Charles Halliday]

I really wouldn't worry about it mate - just go trapping. So long as there are no whiteclaw crayfish populations on the stretch that you're trapping, no one is going to fine you. The only people that will get snotty are the ones that have spent ages like me trying to jump through the hoops in order to get a license - trust me - licenses are a waste of time, unless you're an ecologist that is specifically intersted in surverying white claws.

The fishing community have been banging on about this for ages as it annoys them that they can't eat or kill them since they catch them on hook and line time and time again. The EA have now asking them not to put them back. The best thing you can do is to phone your local wild life trust and ask them if the rivers you're interested in have had white claws in them, ask when the last one was recorded and then ask if american crayfish are in there and for how long. The two can't co-exist for more than a couple of years, so if they've been in there for long, tuck in and enjoy.

[Dogghound]

Just make sure you dont take white claws, that would be a nightmare, with all there current pressure.

[Marineboy]

This is something that I too have been trying to follow up. Anywhere, locally, the american signals are bad news - why then is it that the fisheries authorities I have had any form of response from seem to be very protective of these alien invaders. "Unfortunately, we do not currently permit the trapping of crayfish...." I bet the local water bailifs and wardens don't have any problems "doing a random sample" knocked back with a nice light white wine on a Sunday afternoon. All in the interests of monitoring Signal Crayfish of course.
As to a licence - maybe all we need is the one from the DVLA so we can drive to crayfish hotspots!
For all you budding trappers, try this site.
Jarnn Fishing supply crayfish traps throughout America, Europe and the UK
You can get 2 traps, including postage to UK address for a little over a tenner!

[Marineboy]

This is from the Defra site -
Defra, UK - Fisheries - Salmon and freshwater fisheries - Crayfish

NATIONAL 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.

Maybe the more people request these trapping advice packs the sooner Defra will have to wake up.

[Reverend Mark]

Well I appreciate the sentiments of "just go trapping", but to be honest I'm really uncomfortable taking the chance. At the moment I'm not even 100% sure of a signal population. Lets just say I've been trying to take some "random samples" myself, but have found it more difficult that many would lead me to believe!

As an update I got my pack from the EA today, and having had a good read through I'm probably no closer to knowing whether I will be able to obtain a license. Part of the problem for me is that I'm not certain exactly where the signals are, and yet I need to specify a grid reference for the stretch of water I want to fish... Catch 22. Also apparently I need to get permission from the owner of the water I want to fish. If its a river through a public park, I guess its the local council, right? If so I reckon I've got about 0% chance of finding the right person to give that permission! How about the canals? I suppose if I was a rod and line fisherman I might have a bit more of a clue about it, but that has never appealed to me.

All in all it does seem that the policy keeps people from actively working to control (or exploit) the population of these aliens, but perhaps as you say a few more requests for these packs and the EA might realise that it is a viable option to allow enthusiastic amateurs like me to get involved.

As an aside, the pack suggests that it might require hundreds of kilos, maybe even tonnes of crayfish to be removed to affect a change in the population and I would need to be sure I could dispose of these humanely and safely... I feel a few bbqs coming on if I can get a license!

[eeyore]

canals wise - fishing / trapping from the tow path it would be BW - from the offside it will be who ever the landowner is , unless fishing rioghts have been sold to a club

[The Woodman]

There is no provision for the EA to refuse a crayfish trapping licence. You will have to abide by the conditions of the licence. I would set them at night to avoid you being spotted setting your traps and having them pinched. Be discreet and hide the recovery line. Don't set them where they might be snagged by anglers. Set them in a fleet if using a boat. Anchor them well to prevent them beeing washed away by rising river levels or wash from vessels if in a canal. For those reasons, the flat bottomed traps are the best, cylindrical ones roll around.
Carp boilies make good bait, long lasting, clean handling and tasty.
Above all, purge the crays you catch for at least 24 hours to remove the gut contents. Enjoy.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

There is no provision for the EA to refuse a crayfish trapping licence. .

thats not entirely accurate - they can refuse to licence any individual who they have reason to believe wont abide by the terms of the licence , any stretch of water where native crays are still present, or any area where you do not have landowner consent

[The Woodman]

I spoke to our local EA Consenting Officer today about the issue and he told me that licences to trap Signals are issued only for areas defined by certain postcodes i.e. where Signals occur. I could not get one to fish for them in Cumbria because they are not present here except for a population in the River Derwent /St Johns Beck near Keswick.

He told me that the EA cannot refuse an applicant a licence for any reason other than licence conditions and area of fishing for selected species.

I think the best advice is to contact your local EA Fisheries Dept for the best regional advice. Good luck.

[nightshade]

Illegal traps are reported to be catching and killing Otters

[m1.carson]

Hi people,

I've tried a "contact us" to the Enviroment Agency twice this year, the first had no reply whatsoever, the second time was much better, I recieved an automated reply saying " we will reply in ten working days excluding weekends, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera."

I'm beginning to wonder if anyone actually works there.

Max.

[Chiltern Chris]

It’s interesting to see what people think about this but especially as some people seem to have a rather small world view about managing the water environment. These particular byelaws are part of a larger regulatory regime trying to manage all the conflicting uses of rivers without causing them further harm. The whole point of creating byelaws was to allow trapping to occur in a managed way which would not lead to environmental damage.

The ‘just go out and trap’ mentality advocated by Charles is the attitude that kills protected species, spreads diseases / alien species and can damage rivers throughout the countryside. I'm not saying Charles would not follow the spirit of the byelaws but he may cause damage through a lack of knowledge of what he may be affecting, that's certainly the case with many illegal trappers.

The byelaws allow the Environment Agency to control the method of use i.e. make sure that safeguards are in place such as Otter guards, that species such as Water Voles are protected, that crayfish plague is not spread through trapping and even flood risk management can be maintained e.g. Reverend Mark wants to trap on the Gade. This is a chalk river with good Water Vole potential, it’s in a catchment which has Otters, it has a major culvert under Hemel Hempstead which if blocked by traps ripped free in high flows could flood the western end of Hemel, it has a flow gauging station that may be blocked and a) cause flooding in Gadebridge park and b) would stop it working properly which cripples the flood warning system, some areas are not suitable for trapping throughout the year or at certain times of year as both the Gade and Bourne are winterbournes etc. Just because you might not get caught is a pathetic attitude and is irresponsible because you obviously don’t understand the consequences of your actions. People moan about not seeing enough bailiffs, well Thames Region has almost 5500km of rivers and hundreds of lakes and most of the time they spend running around after people who couldn’t be bothered to get a licence, be it a rod licence, section 30 (fish movement) or byelaw consent.

My advice to Max is don’t bother with the national number for the Environment Agency but ring your local Fisheries team direct. They are based in Wallingford in Red Kite House and respond very quickly, they know the local rivers and the chances of getting a licence.

Reverend Mark should ring the Agency Fisheries staff in Hatfield in Apollo Court to discuss a licence. If either of you would like direct dial numbers let me know by e mail and I’ll pass them on.

Chris

[The Woodman]

Well explained.

[Reverend Mark]

Chris, thank you very much for your reply, I think you and I are on a similar wavelength here.

I would appreciate the number you mention so that I can discuss it further with them, locate a suitable place and apply for a license.

Mark.

[Chiltern Chris]

Hi Mark,

Sorry I've been away for a couple of days ...... I'll send you the info. tomorrow.

Cheers, Chris

[Reverend Mark]

Thanks Chris.

[Marineboy]

Has anyone actually obtained a license for signal trapping? Anyone know of any waters where this IS permitted?

My local signal infested reservoir where trapping is not permitted certainly seems to have someone trapping them. Someone not worried about using marker bouys. Someone with access and use of a boat. Seems like a good case of random sampling by the water bailif again. I can imagine the report filed . . . . . nice with mary rose sauce . . . . and fried with garlic.

I am perfectly aware of the dangers of cross contamination of other waters. Of the unscrupulous selling them to the pet trade. Of the dangers to other wildlife. Of accidental or deliberate release elsewhere. Of H&S issues regards public trapping. Of dangers to our native crays. Of additional workload regards issue of licenses. But why do I get the feeling that the signal has rapidly become a protected species? We all know its not, so why treat it as though it is.
So has anyone got a license? Isn't it about time the problem was tackled head on. Correct me if I am wrong, but there seems to be lots of monitoring the spread and population of the signal crayfish, but very little attempt - serious on-going attempt - at removal. Poisoning is out of the question. Filling in of waterways is out of the question. Releasing biological control is out of the question. To my thinking, doing next to nothing, or nothing, is not an option.

Do we maybe have anyone from the EA out there? Make yourself known and put me right. Tell me that there is lots going on to control this animal before it totally eliminates out native crayfish and decimates our fish life.
I have an idea to put to you. Blatantly obvious and one I will trial given the license. Message me off list.

[bee warrior]

I am very concerned about all the interest in trapping signal crayfish because of the lack of public knowledge (granted not all of us) about this subject and the implications of that lack of knowledge. I will expand a little...

Many river catchments have now, sadly, been colonised by signals to a greater of lesser degree. Along with this colonisation is the threat to, and often elimination of, populations of the native white-claws. Now, not only do the signals directly compete with white-claws i.e by eating them they carry crayfish plague which is extremely virulent and carried in the water. While plague does not affect the signals it is deadly for the natives.

I have it on pretty good authority (albeit anecdotal) that signals are being transported 'live' around the country in response to interest in signal crayfish. My concern is that someone who is not motivated to trap for good eating and/or conservation i.e. financial gain, could cause the spread of both signals and crayfish plague, by moving between rivers and spreading plague on boots, traps or other fishing gear OR by purposefully introducing signals (as they were originally and have been in the past)!

The EA has been abysmal on this entire issue and the website is no help!

Please-anyone thinking of trapping signals who also moves from one body of water to another make sure you know what you are looking for and ensure you are biosecurity aware. Disinfect and allow to thoroughly dry, any foorwear, traps and indeed anything that goes anywhere near water.

Finally I just want to make the point about the often virtriolic response to non-natives. I think it is so easy for us to jump on a simplistic bandwagon about how non-natives are killing 'our' native species. Lets always bear in mind that the biggest threat to 'our' native species is ourselves and our relentless destruction of habitats, but the solutions to that one are far less simple.

[Marineboy]

"The EA has been abysmal on this entire issue and the website is no help"!

From what I have read and seen on the various sites scattered over the web, the signal situation is being allowed to fester on, with very little input from the EA. I for one would like to get hold of the crayfish trapping info pack they advertise, and the license I want and the regulations we need to follow. The most helpful the EA have been so far is an e-mail to say thanks to Gordon Ramsay praising these aliens in his cooking programmes the EA have been inundated with enquiries about trapping!
Why do they not offer more than that? I am not at all surprised that people take it upon themselves to go trapping. I guess, like the ostrich, if they, the EA, bury their heads in the sand the problem goes away.
I wonder if they really have any idea how extensive the signal issue has got. Not only from a where they are found now angle, but also from an illegal trapping and full on frustration angle.

I really agree, "the EA has been abysmal on this entire issue".

[Non native]

When is the best time of year for trapping?

[Charles Halliday]

Hi folks,

I don't have any time for gordon ramsey - a classic bully that was bullied example. He should keep his gob shut and just cook the food IMO. Its no suprise that he is chums with Hugh Lonely Witless Fool either...as for that oeoeoeoe program last night...sorry, I'll get back to the topic

The best time of year is around August/September as they will have finished berrying (egg carrying). Now is just as good, right through until March, but they get less active as the water cools and trapping becomes less effective. Populations normally exist in dense patches rather than being spread out along a stretch of river. It would be much more effective to wade than to trap, so clear and low water and maybe an empty plastic fish tank to view through as you walk up river (walking down river will cloud the water!). Fair point about drying clothes off completely so that disease isn't spread. I'm sure no one one posting on here would be so stupid as to release a signal, but if you tried to store them, they could escape and cause the next whiteclaw disaster. If anyone is going out before winter kicks in, then try looking under submerged bankside vegetation and under big rocks (replacing them gently afterwards). Watch out for those claws - an open cut could end up giving you veils desease which is potentially fatal.

I think the EA have dealt with the problem as well as they could considering the pathetic funds and massive staff shortage. Its no different to himilayan balsam, giant hogweed, carp, catfish, sturgeon, top mouth gudgeon and mitten crabs. Sometimes you just have to accept the consequences of alien species because the cost of fighting it is simply too high.

[bee warrior]

Originally Posted by Charles Halliday

Hi folks,

I think the EA have dealt with the problem as well as they could considering the pathetic funds and massive staff shortage. Its no different to himilayan balsam, giant hogweed, carp, catfish, sturgeon, top mouth gudgeon and mitten crabs. Sometimes you just have to accept the consequences of alien species because the cost of fighting it is simply too high.

I have to say Charles I disagree that the EA have dealt with the problem as well as they could. If as much money was spent on long term, sustainable solutions, rather than happy clappy media opportunites I think the EA could be having a far greater impact. Like every organisation there are always wonderful people on the ground frustrated by lack of funding and my issue is certainly not with them. My frustration is aimed at the strategic level.

Perhaps the issue is that the EA cannot justify action directly targetted at the native crayfish because it is not actually protected (other than from taking for the wild or for sale). I know for a fact however that money is being made available for dealing with signals and I cynically suspect that this is more to do with the impacts on fishing than native crayfish!

[Chiltern Chris]

The Environment Agency has no more legal responsibility over alien species than Natural England or local planning authorities and it is illegal for it to spend money on things it is not empowered by law to do. Legally, alien species are the responsibility of the landowner.

The EA’s main powers are to protect the environment against various development and recreational pressures via its consenting / licensing systems and by influencing others such as planning authorities not to give out environmentally damaging permissions. Permissions are given out using best available scientific knowledge and lets face it our knowledge of the ecology of the signal crayfish is still somewhat lacking.

As the Government deregulated the farming of signals, the Agency has no idea who’s keeping them or where they are. They are monitored only as part of standard surveys which are undertaken for various reasons e.g. water quality work or protected species surveys.

The good news is that if the Water Framework Directive picks up alien species as a major problem then they will need to be looked at under the Programme of Measures for the River Basin they are found in. The Agency’s responsibility there is to identify the problem and work out the best way to deal with it. The implementation will be via landowners, Councils, Natural England and the EA.

Chris

[Beavo]

Hi guys,

I can understand the interest as crayfish taste great if cooked correctly but please, please, please think carefully before attempting to trap crayfish. The traps can and do trap other wildlife (do you really want to kill an Otter) and crayfish can be caught effectively using a line method.

A piece of raw liver tied to some loose woolen yarn will catch you a crayfish. They grab hold of the meat and get tangled up in the wool - I`ve seen it done with yabbies in Australia and there is a similar traditional method for catching eels here in the UK.

It's a far more ecologically friendly method than traps!!