rich1985 Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 How hard is it to obtain all the legal bits and bobs to catch signal crayfish? Got an stream on the shoot stuffed with them. I dint know they were there until a few days ago. Any info be great. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLuke Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 I think Bakerboy might be your man for this (but that is from memory) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich1985 Posted May 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Ok thanks. Will see what comes up on the thread and pm him iif nessercerry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 It depends on who you deal with at the EA. I have a 5 year licence (I think) and it was very simple to get but some people have found it harder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 If you use nets there is no requirement for a license, although a license is really easy to obtain. You must be in attendance of the nets at all times, traps are a different subject. Make a note of the co ordinates of the stretch of river you wish to fish and apply to the EA. Stubby is the man to speak to reference licences, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich1985 Posted May 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Thanks for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobt Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/general-news/otter-drowns-in-illegal-crayfish-trap-in-selby-1-7278619 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich1985 Posted May 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 I've heard of this happening, I am aware of this and I have looked into legal traps, I can't see it being any problem getting permission to catch the crayfish, it's on the shoot etc. one other question can any stretch of a river be trapped with environment agency licence or does the land owner have to give permission too? I know loads of places with signals in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 The local ea refused me licences because there are still significant pockets of indigenous crays to be found locally ( within 10 miles ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 The netting route is the easiest. Get an outlet for the Crayfish and away you. Crayfish can be quite profitable, up to £20.00 per kilo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 You do need permission of the landowner to gain access to the stream. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Was curious about this. It seems to imply that netting crayfish does require a license, but it is free. https://www.gov.uk/permission-to-trap-crayfish-eels-elvers-salmon-and-sea-trout Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich1985 Posted May 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Where they are I have permission to be so that is no problem at all and I have a outlet for them so just the legal stuff to sort. How does crayfish netting work? I have Gill netted a lot in the sea is it the same basic idear? Surly if there were any native crays caught you could simpley realise them? Where these signals are there are no natives anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris1961 Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Look on YouTube shows how to make a trap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Where they are I have permission to be so that is no problem at all and I have a outlet for them so just the legal stuff to sort. How does crayfish netting work? I have Gill netted a lot in the sea is it the same basic idear? Surly if there were any native crays caught you could simpley realise them? Where these signals are there are no natives anyways. It's not so much catching indigenous in error, they said to me it was the risk of spreading the disease that signals carry that is fatal to indigenous crays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich1985 Posted May 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 It's not so much catching indigenous in error, they said to me it was the risk of spreading the disease that signals carry that is fatal to indigenous crays. Ok I see, but surely removing the signal crays will thus stop them breeding and spreading in the river and in turn save the native crays, surely if a few natives died to save the many would be a good thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted May 31, 2015 Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 It may be different in Eng but i think its illegal to transport signal crays, so u have/meant to kill boil them at river side where u catch them. Like i said dunno if the same in eng? The idea is if u crash or any escape because they can travel for such distances over ground can infect other river catchments. I know 1 river in scotland was doing a lot of trapping to try and control them but they actually think its was making it worse as the females are smaller and could get i and out the traps and where eating the trappped crays so breeding better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted May 31, 2015 Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 I think that's why the EA may sometimes be reticent giving out licences. The smallest ones aren't held by traps so they are surviving, and because the big ones are no longer there to predate them they cause a population explosion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted May 31, 2015 Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 Cheers Falcon, Do u have to kill the crays before u transport them then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted May 31, 2015 Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 (edited) Ok I see, but surely removing the signal crays will thus stop them breeding and spreading in the river and in turn save the native crays, surely if a few natives died to save the many would be a good thing.It's the risk of spreading the disease on equipment you've used, and the risk of transporting the crays. It is also the idea that taking out all the large crays (as you would do in traps) will leave a proliferation of small crays.This was two years ago in notts area. Edited May 31, 2015 by pegasus bridge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich1985 Posted May 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 (edited) This is all very interesting stuff. So are you saying once they are in a water way they are there forever? It's strange there placement as I know a bit of the river wensum that is so full with signal crays that if u drop a bit of meat in as soon as it hits the bottom the river Bed literally moves with them and then come a few miles up stream and there is no signals and there is native white claw crays. Well there wasn't last year so it could be a different story now. Surely if u transported them in a sealed container then it would be all good? Surly if you keep on trapping all the time as the crays grow they will be caught and thur removed? I dnt know how small they are when they breed tho. Surely responsible licences trappers could be trained somehow and use foot dip style sterilisation for there gear and foot wear etc? Seem to me with a bit of training and thought from the EA and land owners an army of responsible trappers could be set up to help with the signal problem? Or am I just being simple? Thanks guys Edited May 31, 2015 by rich1985 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted May 31, 2015 Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 Cheers Falcon, Do u have to kill the crays before u transport them then? No but it is an offence to release them once caught. There are no native crays round my way but o ly a few rivers have the signals, so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted May 31, 2015 Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 The neighbouring river catchment has some and there fishery board went all out to try and wipe them out, after years of trying they actually think they made it worse by trapping. They do sem to be very hard to control when they get into the river system There was a big windmill/forestry project recently that straddled the 2 catchments, some off the conditions (including the direction and placement of brash matts/hualage routes to the forrest tracks) put in were crazy to try and stop the cray fish from spreading were really worried they could travel up the small streams and then follow muddy tracks left by the forestry machines I'm sure ur right rich, but the problems arise when some are not so responsible and do not disenfect or less careful how they move the crays. Most of the crays will have been released on purpose by people anyway in the past so they don't have to travel to trap them, it even happens with deer/boar, the old iffor williams has a lot to answer for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 (edited) There is a river near me, on any Sunday morning you will find lots of people fishing for them with traps and drop nets. You should have a licence but I can't imagine many of the people there even know you should, much less have one. The BIG problem with them is that they eat the eggs of the fish so effectively wiping them out over time Edited June 1, 2015 by Vince Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Used to catch millions of the horrid things-killing them on site is not really an option because you should really purge them in clean water for a couple of days to remove any muddy taste. I used to have permission close to where they originally escaped (stoney stratford in Bucks) and the waters were heaving with them-at one point we were catching them and stepping on them so the Gulls could feast. Never heard of anyone with a licence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.