Signal crayfish

[greeno187]

Can anyone tell me if its possible to catch signal crayfish in the rivers of south Hampshire.
Just return from holiday in Lechlade by the Thames they have a massive problem up there.

Have signal crayfish come this far south?

[nigel_b]

I can't answer your question directly but there's lots of info on this forum including links to distribution maps which show exactly where they have been recorded as present. I think in this case the search button is your friend.

[amnesia91]

Technically you need a licence from the EA to catch Signal Crayfish.

They are actually more prevalent in the south of the country than the north (thankfully). There are plenty of traps etc on ebay, should you be issued with a licence.

Also note, because they are alien species, if you do catch one, it is also technically illegal to put them back!

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

I've caught signal crayfish in Andover as part of a wildlife trust survey, so I would imagine that they will be South Hampshire as well. They are by all accounts a huge problem all over the UK. I have been told by those in the know that the only way to toatally erradicate them from the UK would be to pollute every water course and kill them and unfortunatly everything else, that is the size of the problem.

BWD

[Kayleigh]

When you go fishing if you accidentally catch one as they go for the bait the fishing club states your not allowed to throw them back, and to kill them..
I don't go fishing any more but surly this advice is wrong.

[amnesia91]

Legally its absolutely right - because they are an "alien" species, its is technically illegal to put them back, because you are then considered to be "introducing an alien species."

To be honest they are dreadful things that eat anything and have a massive impact on our natural "indigenous" wildlife around the river.


There was a really good thread on here a while back about this subject:

Signal Crayfish

[greeno187]

Thanks for the posts everyone ...but getting back to the original question Does any one know if its possible to catch signal crayfish in South Hampshire... rivers like the Hamble or meon. Have they travelled this far south?

[nigel_b]

Try this link:

NBN Gateway - interactive species mapper

about 2 minutes on google

[Kayleigh]

The trouble is they look similar to out native ones this is why you need a licence to handle them.
They also carry a plague that wipes out our natives and can be carried on shoes ect.
So whatever area they are in you still cant go killing them with out a licence.