Foreign Crayfish Invade British Waterways

Britons are hitting back at ferocious North American crayfish which are invading our rivers and canals.

The huge crays - they look like small lobsters - are being hunted by people keen to sell them for a fat profit to top hotels and restaurants.

Because the American crayfish are much larger than our native species,they can provide a far bigger profit return for people who hunt them.

Small armies of countrymen are brushing up on the ancient art of crayfish catching and are targetting the streams which have teeming populations of the Yankee invaders.

The Kennet and Avon Canal in Berkshire is typical - there's been a population explosion of the American crayfish,which many fear poses a threat to other wildlife.

Anglers and nature lovers have reported seeing increasing numbers of crayfish swamping the canal,and rivers and lakes across the area.

The American or Canadian crayfish was accidentally introduced to British waterways several years ago.

They grow up to seven inches long with huge pincers almost as big as their bodies and will eat anything in their path - and attack the smaller native crayfish.

Derek Unwin,who runs a fishing tackle shop in Newbury,Berks,said that more than 500 of the carnivorous crustaceans had been caught from the Kennet and Avon canal in the last ten days.

"The rivers and canals in Newbury are alive with them.A lady came into the shop the other day and said she saw two men lay around 500 traps.

"Apparently when the pair returned,the pots were so full and heavy that the men had trouble lifting them on to their van.

"Crayfish lay hundreds of eggs several times a year which might also explain why there weren't many dabchicks or moorhens around this year..crayfish crawl up into the nests and eat the eggs."

Anglers have complained of missing bait and snapped lines from sharp pincers,while in the capital,the Crown issues an annual royal warrant to permit anglers to catch crayfish to keep down the numbers.

Some restaurants consider the crayfish or langoustine a delicacy,which currently retail at up to £10 per pound at Billingsgate market in London.