Signal Crayfish

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

dunno don't think so..... I'm not certain it is breaking the law..... more against best practice - there's always a risk I suppose in moving the animals about, particularly if there's lots as described - and you tell your friends - and they catch some to eat and some to sell to pubs - and then there's a market - so someone buys in some signals to breed and sticks them in his pond - and they escape into nearby watercourses........

As convention dictates - I love you Gill ( )...... but i dont agree with you this time - if there are loads arround then a few escapes wont make any difference QED

The more of the things get eaten the better in my book, the only hazard i can see id the egg release issue and notbrazil covered precautions against that in his first post. A lot of landowners licence people to catch them so there is already a market.

Any I catch have no chance of getting sold to pubs, they go straight in the freezer for my own consumption.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by eeyore

As convention dictates - I love you Gill ( )...... but i dont agree with you this time - if there are loads arround then a few escapes wont make any difference QED

The more of the things get eaten the better in my book, the only hazard i can see id the egg release issue and notbrazil covered precautions against that in his first post. A lot of landowners licence people to catch them so there is already a market.

Any I catch have no chance of getting sold to pubs, they go straight in the freezer for my own consumption.

Well it was the few escapes that started the problem in the first place........

Oh I might be tempted to catch a few perhaps - because I too know the risks and would take great care- not sure I'd tell anyone about it though because they might not be so well versed in the problems and might perpetuate the situation. - which should really be avioded at all costs

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

they might not be so well versed in the problems and might perpetuate the situation. - which should really be avioded at all costs

no argument there, My favoured approach is to use the electrofishing gear to stun them and pickem off the surface - or to just paddle about in the weir picking them up - we have so many in the ouse that local magpies and carion crows have started doing the latter too

[Bushcraft]

Originally Posted by Airehead

You might find out if you insist on being so public. For example, I am closely in touch with a bailiff of the Grassington stretch, Consider this as a friendly caution, not a threat.

I knew it lol

[notbrazil]

With respect to Airehead I understand to a degree where you are coming from but, lets face it, the current law states that if you see one report it to the EA. In doing so the EA make a note and do sweet FA. Some of us, like me, are keen conservationists and have been for some time. Scuba diving has merely made me appreciate and understand an environment I don't get to get misconceptions about on a daily basis.

So, explain this. Three years ago when I went for a leisure dive in the same area I was playing with trout. On Tuesday there were NONE. Not a single one. And this is the time of year all the little fellas should be darting about.

Every single rock had a nipper under it. You know where I'm talking about. At the back of the hole at about 5m I gently lifted a big boulder and here must have been 50 baby signal's under it.

I took a lot of care with what I did and have thought about it again and again and I'm buggered if I'm going to sit back and allow these things just to sit there and eat all around them. I'll write to the Yorkshire Post. I'll do whatever.

Leave the armoured Yanks to the Lebanon or wherever else they want to go but leave my local rivers alone. Anyway, what's wrong with responsibly eating them anyway? Would you rather go to Morrisons?

[Airehead]

[quote=notbrazil]With respect to Airehead [quote]

Never said I didn't agree with you, notbrazil, just that you are exposing yourself!

And I wish I could find some trout - but right at this moment the weather is not doing them any good. And it would be just our luck for warmer summers to be exactly what s. crayfish enjoy.

[notbrazil]

Exposing myself to what exactly? Protecting my local environment from a complete infestation and satisfying my culnary desires at the same time? There should be plenty of trout in that river just like there was 3 years ago in similar weather conditions. They released a load of salmon a few years ago downstram at Bolton Abbey and they have never made it passed Burnsall. I wonder why?

[Airehead]

notbrazil, I capitulate. Your questions are far too complex for me.

Just 2 points -
I agree that EA don't respond.
No, I would not go to Morrison's. Morrison does not like anglers but he sells fish. I am certainly not going to buy them from him.

[notbrazil]

Excellent retort Airehead. Respect.

[Dan Salter]

Have just seen a story about these on Gordon Ramseys F word...

It seems you can obtain a free licence from the environment agency and catch these tasty invaders and eat them to your hearts content !

But now im torn? My conservation side hopes my local rivers and waterways have not been invaded yet?
My lover of shellfish side and the good cook in me hopes the rivers near me are teaming so i can get a license and feed myself free until the cooler weather comes?