boatone
Well-Known Member
The Environment Agency have asked that the following information be promulgated as widely as possible:
Non-native invasive shrimp found in Thames: guidance for boaters
· An invasive shrimp which could be damaging to native species has been discovered across England, including the River Thames.
· The Environment Agency and Canal & River Trust are now urging water users such as boaters, anglers and canoeists, to help slow the spread of this invasive species by checking, cleaning and drying all their equipment after use, before using it at another location.
· Boat users must be particularly careful to ensure that boats and kayaks are drained, cleaned and dried. Boat trailers must also be thoroughly cleaned after use. Anglers should take particular care to ensure their nets are thoroughly cleaned and dried before reuse. Boat users need to ensure that any debris or wildlife on hulls, particularly zebra mussels, are removed and disposed of safely – more advice advice available at www.nonnativespecies.org/checkcleandry.
· Invasive species now cost the UK economy an estimated £1.7billion every year. They cause damage to riverbanks, increase flood risk, crowd out and kill off native wildlife and become so prolific on waterways that fishermen, boaters and anglers are unable to use them.
· Dikerogammarus haemobaphes is the less aggressive relative of Dikerogammarus villosus, the ‘killer shrimp’, which was first discovered at Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire in 2010. Many waterbodies in Western Europe have undergone major ecological change due to the arrival of these species, which come from Eastern Europe. They often completely replace many native species in their preferred habitats.
·Although Dikerogammarus haemobaphes is the less aggressive relative of the ‘killer shrimp’, its impact on our ecosystems may be even greater because of its ability to survive in more varied habitats. It is essential to reduce the spread by checking, cleaning and drying all equipment used in the water.
Non-native invasive shrimp found in Thames: guidance for boaters
· An invasive shrimp which could be damaging to native species has been discovered across England, including the River Thames.
· The Environment Agency and Canal & River Trust are now urging water users such as boaters, anglers and canoeists, to help slow the spread of this invasive species by checking, cleaning and drying all their equipment after use, before using it at another location.
· Boat users must be particularly careful to ensure that boats and kayaks are drained, cleaned and dried. Boat trailers must also be thoroughly cleaned after use. Anglers should take particular care to ensure their nets are thoroughly cleaned and dried before reuse. Boat users need to ensure that any debris or wildlife on hulls, particularly zebra mussels, are removed and disposed of safely – more advice advice available at www.nonnativespecies.org/checkcleandry.
· Invasive species now cost the UK economy an estimated £1.7billion every year. They cause damage to riverbanks, increase flood risk, crowd out and kill off native wildlife and become so prolific on waterways that fishermen, boaters and anglers are unable to use them.
· Dikerogammarus haemobaphes is the less aggressive relative of Dikerogammarus villosus, the ‘killer shrimp’, which was first discovered at Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire in 2010. Many waterbodies in Western Europe have undergone major ecological change due to the arrival of these species, which come from Eastern Europe. They often completely replace many native species in their preferred habitats.
·Although Dikerogammarus haemobaphes is the less aggressive relative of the ‘killer shrimp’, its impact on our ecosystems may be even greater because of its ability to survive in more varied habitats. It is essential to reduce the spread by checking, cleaning and drying all equipment used in the water.
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