signal crayfish

jordan,renton · #1 (**permalink**) 13-02-2008, 04:57 PM

do you haft to have a licence to catch them and eat them

Kayleigh · #2 (**permalink**) 13-02-2008, 05:30 PM

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...yorkshire.html

you might find the answer here..

jordan,renton · #3 (**permalink**) 13-02-2008, 05:47 PM

right so you need 1 where do they sell them

Kayleigh · #4 (**permalink**) 13-02-2008, 06:17 PM

Don't think just anyone can get one..Not sure

shirl · #5 (**permalink**) 13-02-2008, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordan,renton

right so you need 1 where do they sell them

I think it's the Environment Agency

Shirl

Marineboy · #6 (**permalink**) 13-02-2008, 10:09 PM

This is an interest of mine that is festering from last year. I contacted the Environment Agency by phone to get their crayfish trapping information pack. I was pleased when I received it.
Inside there was lots of info, including phone numbers for local agency officers who could advise on local trapping. Some of these local and not so local I phoned - none were able to identify anywhere where they permitted trapping.
I then e-mailed the EA again asking a general "you tell me where I can trap them and I will try it there" - I also told them I had received the info pack. Their answer was "you need to get a licence from us" and an ending note to say they would send me an information pack. Did I mention that I had already told them I had one?
To answer the question, do you need a licence - yes you do. There are regulations to where and what type of trap you intend to use. Traps will be labelled with supplied labels and made "wildlife friendly".
You need to find a water where the land owner will permit trapping. You tell the EA where it is and ask if you can trap there. If they agree, you should get the labels and the licence you need and forms to keep track of catches.
Trouble is, the Environment Agency plays hard to get and I am still banging my head on the EA wall.
I want to do it right, following correct procedures, regulations and licence requirements. But the EA are not terribly forthcoming with anything other than tantilising information packs. The band of illegal trappers will no doubt swell in numbers as the year goes on. Trappers will be caught and fined. Otters, and water voles will drown in illegally set traps. Is this worth risking while trapping crayfish? As the EA even admit amongst their on-line advice - they are very good to eat! I wonder what equipment an EA officer needs for doing "sampling"? Frying pan, oil and garlic maybe?
Have we ever had any really useful advice from the Environment Agency posted here? Does anyone know where trapping can be done? Has anyone managed to obtain a licence?

Kayleigh · #7 (**permalink**) 13-02-2008, 10:16 PM

There is a local fishing lake near us that says if you catch a crayfish you have to kill it as it cannot be returned to the water. They are caught readily with a fishing line and the water don't want them there as they are eating all the fish stocks. Even the garden centre has them on the river that runs at the back.