Red swamp crayfish
Procambarus clarkii
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Photo credit: ©Trevor Renals
Procambarus clarkii
Description:
Origin and Worldwide Distribution:
Potential or Known Impacts:
How could it get here?
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
Methods for Prevention:
You can help by reporting any sightings: @ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Current Legislative Position (Listed on 03 August 2016)
Procambarus clarkii
Description:
- It is a red or red-brown crayfish, measuring up to 12 cm long, with a cylindrical body.
- It has a granular carapace with marginal spines. Its chelae are long and narrow with bright red tubercles and spines.
Origin and Worldwide Distribution:
- It is native to north-eastern Mexico and south-central USA. It has been introduced to Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Potential or Known Impacts:
- It outcompetes the native European crayfish and transmits the crayfish plague Aphanomyces astaci.
- It degrades riverbanks because of its burrowing activity.
- It accumulates heavy metals and toxins produced by Cyanobacteria, and can transfer them to its consumers, including humans.
How could it get here?
- Intentional introduced for aquaculture, but can spread also by anglers for local consumption, and as bait.
- It is widely available in the aquarium trade.
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
- Not present in Northern Ireland.
Methods for Prevention:
- Monitoring and surveying pathways of introduction.
- Removal of use for live bait.
- Report any sightings.
You can help by reporting any sightings: @ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Current Legislative Position (Listed on 03 August 2016)
- This species must not intentionally be brought into the Union; kept; bred; transported to, from or within the United Kingdom, unless for the transportation to facilities in the context of eradication; placed on the market; used or exchanged; permitted to reproduce, grown or cultivated; or released into the environment.