This Is Worrying

Eddie B

http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/253237/crayfish-plague-threatens-to-wipe-out-stock-in-rathkeale-s-river-deel.html

Birdnuts

Eddie B wrote: »

http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/253237/crayfish-plague-threatens-to-wipe-out-stock-in-rathkeale-s-river-deel.html

It certainly is - this species was already under pressure from pollution and drainage etc.....this could be the final nail in the coffin:(

Eddie B

If it reaches the Shannon, then it really does get serious.

Birdnuts

Eddie B wrote: »

If it reaches the Shannon, then it really does get serious.

I wonder could some be taken into captivity until the plague passes to act as a donor population??

Eddie B

Birdnuts wrote: »

I wonder could some be taken into captivity until the plague passes to act as a donor population??

Well that would be a huge task. How long would it take for a river system to recover from a total species wipe out. I honestly don't know enough about this plague. How it works, or how long it remains in a river system. Whether immunity can be developed in time etc. If it's as bad as they say, then it may be too late already.

Half-cocked

And we're getting into the season when there is a huge rise in recreational use of waterways so the risk of spreading is increased:(

magicbastarder

yeah, i have heard speculation that boats or fishing gear being used on different rivers is the big risk; that the plague will die out in a river if the crayfish die, but the problem is it being artificially transferred between rivers.