wymberley Posted June 9, 2023 Report Share Posted June 9, 2023 Because I don't know, have I got this right? Is grey squirrel - squirrel pox - red squirrel the same sort of thing as - signal crayfish - crayfish plague - white-clawed crayfish? It seems dosh is being dished out to improve the numbers of our native variety which it seems is in serious decline, but I can't see any reference to reducing those of the invaders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted June 9, 2023 Report Share Posted June 9, 2023 Everybody that I know that has tried to get a licence to remove the American invaders has struggled. Almost as if the authorities don't care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob Posted June 9, 2023 Report Share Posted June 9, 2023 Looking at a map i dont think we get them in Scotland but a few folk i know trap them and get them by the bucketful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonepark Posted June 9, 2023 Report Share Posted June 9, 2023 (edited) White clawed Crayfish are non native to Scotland, but the relocations were approved by Government. Signals are also non native and spreading both naturally and artificially all over Scotland and we're originally escapes and not approved. Loch Ken is full of Signals (literally tens of tonnes), but due to the NatScot restrictions we are not allowed to trap them without an individual licence which they will only grant to the landowners in general. However, I know there are those out there less inclined to ask Big Gov for permission and they report the Signals are delicious. Edited June 9, 2023 by Stonepark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted June 9, 2023 Report Share Posted June 9, 2023 47 minutes ago, Stonepark said: White clawed Crayfish are non native to Scotland, but the relocations were approved by Government. Signals are also non native and spreading both naturally and artificially all over Scotland and we're originally escapes and not approved. Loch Ken is full of Signals (literally tens of tonnes), but due to the NatScot restrictions we are not allowed to trap them without an individual licence which they will only grant to the landowners in general. However, I know there are those out there less inclined to ask Big Gov for permission and they report the Signals are delicious. all it needs is for the restrictions to be lifted and a conserted effort by well known chefs to show how delis' the american crayfish is.....they could be well under control within a couple of years...............i understand they deplete the food souce for our own indiginous fish and also like to feast upon the eggs (spawn) of fish......getting them under control would be a big win win for our rivers and lochs and lake.......... all it needs is a small dose of common sense.....which within the govt' is like hens teeth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted June 9, 2023 Report Share Posted June 9, 2023 Last time that I tried to apply for a licence it said that they weren't processing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted June 9, 2023 Report Share Posted June 9, 2023 1 hour ago, Bigbob said: Looking at a map i dont think we get them in Scotland but a few folk i know trap them and get them by the bucketful We have then in Loch Ken but not allowed to trap them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellow Bear Posted June 9, 2023 Report Share Posted June 9, 2023 46 minutes ago, harrycatcat1 said: Last time that I tried to apply for a licence it said that they weren't processing them. Come on now - you can't expect civil servants to actually do the job they are paid for. There will be some excuse like "we can't do that from home because of data protection" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted June 9, 2023 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2023 An outfit up the road from me has been given £10k to set up a hatchery and nursery for our home grown ones, but with an 80% loss in 50 years they’re going to need some help once released, I fancy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuke Posted June 9, 2023 Report Share Posted June 9, 2023 1 hour ago, ditchman said: all it needs is for the restrictions to be lifted and a conserted effort by well known chefs to show how delis' the american crayfish is.....they could be well under control within a couple of years...............i understand they deplete the food souce for our own indiginous fish and also like to feast upon the eggs (spawn) of fish......getting them under control would be a big win win for our rivers and lochs and lake.......... It's not possible to control them, at least that is the experience we have here in Sweden. /Markus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted June 9, 2023 Report Share Posted June 9, 2023 Hello, what with pollution from sewage farms and these red signal crayfish our rivers will never recover to what it was when I and many many PW members started fishing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted June 9, 2023 Report Share Posted June 9, 2023 59 minutes ago, Nuke said: It's not possible to control them, at least that is the experience we have here in Sweden. /Markus well if you stopped eating 400 year old femented shark that smells like rotton cheese and dead bodies and went for something wholesome like crayfish pizza...thatwould make a difference i mean to say what has some poor old deepwater shark ..that was swimming about in the time of Henry the 8th...ever done to deserve being hunted by earstwhile vilkings ..eh ? .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted June 9, 2023 Report Share Posted June 9, 2023 Hello, not giving out Crayfish licences seems most illogical , why not have a red signal catch day all over UK except where there are our naturals are, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muncher Posted June 9, 2023 Report Share Posted June 9, 2023 Not a single mention of mit crabs. My local rivers are swarming with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted June 9, 2023 Report Share Posted June 9, 2023 I know someone that might of caught over 600 tasty crayfish during lockdown 😬. Two turtles too. tinned mackerel with oil works a treat apparently 😂. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted June 9, 2023 Report Share Posted June 9, 2023 4 hours ago, muncher said: Not a single mention of mit crabs. My local rivers are swarming with them. just did a Wickipedia on mitten crabs..............BLOODY HELL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muncher Posted June 10, 2023 Report Share Posted June 10, 2023 8 hours ago, ditchman said: just did a Wickipedia on mitten crabs..............BLOODY HELL The local eel man makes more money on the crabs than eels, apparently the Chinese live them and pay a premium for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob Posted June 10, 2023 Report Share Posted June 10, 2023 According to new maps by the university of cambridge there's still none in Bonny Scotland LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob Posted June 10, 2023 Report Share Posted June 10, 2023 A nice potfull fresh off the boil would make all the effort of peeling them worth while and better than those crab sticks they sell in supermarkets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted June 10, 2023 Report Share Posted June 10, 2023 1 hour ago, muncher said: The local eel man makes more money on the crabs than eels, apparently the Chinese live them and pay a premium for them. did read that mitten crabs from a particular lake in china fetch very serious money..................apparently over 100,000 tonnes of mitten crabs were eaten last year in the far east........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MirokuMK70 Posted June 10, 2023 Report Share Posted June 10, 2023 As an angler, I wouldn't eat anything that came out of our rivers and canals 🤢🤮 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted June 11, 2023 Report Share Posted June 11, 2023 16 hours ago, MirokuMK70 said: As an angler, I wouldn't eat anything that came out of our rivers and canals 🤢🤮 Astute methinks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted June 11, 2023 Report Share Posted June 11, 2023 16 hours ago, MirokuMK70 said: As an angler, I wouldn't eat anything that came out of our rivers and canals 🤢🤮 it wouldnt be cruchy ..and thats for sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted June 11, 2023 Report Share Posted June 11, 2023 (edited) On 09/06/2023 at 17:18, harrycatcat1 said: Last time that I tried to apply for a licence it said that they weren't processing them. The reason, it is believed, that they are not giving out licences is because the biggest predator on baby red crayfish are bigger red crayfish. Hardly a good reason in my mind But I know people who are catching crayfish. If you go down to the river Chess near us today you will see kids with drop nets and buckets hanging off the bridge Edited June 11, 2023 by Vince Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wymondley Posted June 11, 2023 Report Share Posted June 11, 2023 It appears the suspension of granting crayfish licences has been lifted! or so it seems from the EA website. Good news for me as I have access to a clean stretch of water that has a decent population, free food. I think they're absolutely delicious, I used to net some in a local stream but it was a bit hit and miss as the bulk of them are in a (private) spring fed lake. Check out the excellent Scott Rea on youtube for some trapping/cooking ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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