UK Wildlife

White-clawed Crayfish Conservation

The white-clawed crayfish is Britain's only native crayfish species, now critically endangered following the introduction of American signal crayfish that carry a lethal crayfish plague disease.

Key Facts

White-clawed crayfish has declined by around 95% since signal crayfish introduction in 1970s
Signal crayfish carries crayfish plague disease to which native species have no immunity
Ark sites - isolated water bodies kept free of signal crayfish - are a key conservation strategy
Signal crayfish are invasive pests that burrow into river banks causing erosion
Captive breeding programmes maintain populations as insurance against wild extinction

Welfare Considerations

White-clawed crayfish conservation illustrates the welfare and conservation consequences of invasive species introduction. Control of signal crayfish through trapping and other methods is necessary to protect native populations. Each native crayfish that dies from plague represents a welfare and conservation loss.

What You Can Do

Never transfer signal crayfish between water bodies - this is illegal and causes conservation damage
Support Wildlife Trust white-clawed crayfish conservation at ark sites
Report signal crayfish presence in new locations to Environment Agency