Wildlife

Freshwater Crayfish Native Species Welfare

Native white-clawed crayfish face extinction from invasive signal crayfish carrying crayfish plague, raising welfare and conservation challenges.

Key Facts

Native white-clawed crayfish are critically endangered in UK
American signal crayfish carry crayfish plague disease lethal to native species
Signal crayfish outcompete natives and burrow destructively in riverbanks
Ark site translocations move native crayfish to disease-free refuges
Signal crayfish are legally trapped for human consumption in UK

Welfare Considerations

Mass mortality events from crayfish plague cause widespread suffering and death in native crayfish populations. Trapping and killing of invasive signal crayfish raises invertebrate welfare questions as evidence of crayfish sentience grows.

What You Can Do

Never release signal crayfish or other invertebrates into waterways
Support ark site conservation programmes for native white-clawed crayfish
Clean and dry watercraft and equipment when moving between water bodies
Advocate for research into humane management of invasive signal crayfish