GFox
New member
Has anyone had any experience with Quagga in the thames. I'd read they'd been found there. As they're an invasive species do any spottings need to be reported?
Quaggas in thames
- Thread starter GFox
- Start date
The Glassman
Active member
Definitely now in the Thames according to Gov.uk. Have been reported in various north and west London reservoirs too - and, apparently in the R. Colne.
Keep your raw water gate valves shut if mooring-up for any longish time! Haven't seen any requests/demands that we try to identify and report them though.
They'll probably end up being part of the ever-changing UK aquatic ecosystem, like signal crayfish, zebra mussels, mitten crabs, Wels catfish, terrapins, floating pennywort, Asian cormorants etc., etc.
How on earth can you eradicate these things?
Keep your raw water gate valves shut if mooring-up for any longish time! Haven't seen any requests/demands that we try to identify and report them though.
They'll probably end up being part of the ever-changing UK aquatic ecosystem, like signal crayfish, zebra mussels, mitten crabs, Wels catfish, terrapins, floating pennywort, Asian cormorants etc., etc.
How on earth can you eradicate these things?
The Glassman
Active member
Oh... and by the way, it's quagga mussels! Quaggas were a now extinct, zebra-like species of pre-historic horse. Not often seen in the Thames.......?
GFox
New member
Bit late back into the thread but I've read draining, a blast with hot water and disinfectant when giving your boat and any parts of the boat in contact with water a clean should do the trick of killing anything, as long as its dried. Apparently mussels often get caught in motors and valves.
Actionmat
Well-known member
I saw a boat lifted at Shepperton a few years ago, absolute encrusted in them. Lift out staff jet washed the lot off and blasted them back into the marina. If I moored there I'd be fuming. Maybe they've changed their practices since there was a change of management? I certainly hope so.
GFox
New member
That's awful. I think DEFRA have a lot of monitoring and money going into preventing further spread from the thames, so stuff like this should really not be happening. If shepperton is infested with them they should probably be giving people moored there some guidance. Hopefully they've got their act together since
Actionmat
Well-known member
Could someone who's been there more recently than me or had a lift out confirm? Do they shovel everything they jet wash off into containers or does it still get blown back into the water?
GFox
New member
Apparently running your boat twice a week if left in water helps stop mussels settling in the motor...
sarabande
Well-known member
Any mussel that 'settles' inside a motor will die because of anoxia. Those with access to fresh water as in the entrance to a cooling inlet will survive.
You really do need either to learn about marine biology, or just get on and use the boat without repeatedly expressing your unfounded worries on the forum.
here'sa good course
Marine Biology Course | Distance Learning | UK Open College
and there are even free ones around.
You really do need either to learn about marine biology, or just get on and use the boat without repeatedly expressing your unfounded worries on the forum.
here'sa good course
Marine Biology Course | Distance Learning | UK Open College
and there are even free ones around.
Mark26
Active member
I opened my weed hatch today, and on the inside at the bottom were lots of very small shellfish attached to the sides. I’ve no idea what they were but they were dispatched with the aid of a wire brush.
The boat was last out of the water in 2019 and is coming out again this year, It’ll be interesting to see what we find.
The boat was last out of the water in 2019 and is coming out again this year, It’ll be interesting to see what we find.
Mark26
Active member
Just googled Quagga, yep, that’s what the things on mine looked like. Some came up stuck in the wire brush and were alive.
GFox
New member
Where is it you're moored?
GFox
New member
Swansea university did a study and found boat ramps are a major way the mussels spread
Controls needed to stop zebra mussels invading Great Britain
Controls needed to stop zebra mussels invading Great Britain
GFox
New member
I'd just seen a few articles from the us where they're pretty widespread that said to watch out for the motor. I just wanted to be careful about spreading them as I'm mooring in the Thames. They're obviously not good for the environment and are on harmful invasive species lists. Sorry I've been posting a lot I should have just stuck to one thread.
Mark26
Active member
I’m on the Thames
Mark26
Active member
Mine is coming out in August
The Q
Well-known member
Seems appropriate since the Quaggy River feed the Thames in London.
CJL
Member
Problem is that boat ramps are largely unloved by their owners and viewed as nothing more than a liability. I would gladly pay to use a proper slipway with parking, decent concrete, wash down area etc. Nobody seems interested and even the sites that are suffering invasive species such as Grafham, are loosing their enthusiasm to tackle them effectively.
Community Infrastructure Levy or Section 108 agreements should be placed on big developments next to the rivers/lakes/sea to build and maintain proper infrastructure to enable safe boating and prevent invasive species. We are missing such a trick to have proper safe, appropriate and well funded infrastructure.
