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<p>Policy on non-native crayfish is devolved; the following information is relevant
to England and Wales.</p><p> </p><p>We are in the process of eradicating the only
known population of white river crayfish in England and Wales, using a natural pyrethrum
based biocide. The trapping of crayfish is tightly regulated to prevent deliberate
or accidental spread of crayfish. The Environment Agency has been active in instigating
research into methods for managing non-native crayfish populations and mitigating
their impact on the environment.</p><p> </p><p>On 8 March the Government laid the
Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order (“the Order”) which applies
across England and Wales. The Order is a key part of meeting the requirements of EU
Invasive Alien Species Regulation (1143/2014), a core purpose of which is to take
concerted action to tackle the threat that invasive species pose to our biodiversity
and ecosystems. The Order will introduce an enforcement regime that will include the
following non-native invasive crayfish species: signal crayfish, marbled crayfish,
virile crayfish, spiny cheeked crayfish, and red swamped crayfish. The Order will
introduce both civil and criminal sanctions including both fixed and variable monetary
penalties and custodial sentences for the most serious infringements of the EU Regulation.</p><p>
</p><p>On 18 July the Government launched a consultation on management measures for
widely spread invasive alien species, including the signal crayfish, which closes
on 12 September. Under the Invasive Alien Species Regulation, management measures
must be put in place for widespread invasive alien species. The consultation asks
for views on ways to manage populations of species of concern including for specified
invasive crayfish species.</p><p> </p><p>The consultation can be found at</p><p><a
href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/invasive-alien-species-management-measures-for-widely-spread-species-in-england-and-wales"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/invasive-alien-species-management-measures-for-widely-spread-species-in-england-and-wales</a></p><p>
</p><p>We continue to work with water companies to improve biosecurity measures, including
through the Clean, Check, Dry campaign.</p><p> </p>
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