Yes, its the Killer Shrimp you have to worry about now. Please read the message below from the environment agency.

 

Dear all,

Please see information below and attached with regard to a recently identified invasive freshwater shrimp species. Please disseminate this to anybody who you think would benefit. The key message is to establish coverage - if you think you have found it please let your local EA officer know - and to make sure it is not accidentally transferred, through biosecurity measures as laid out below.

Thanks

Sally

Sally Chadwick

Fisheries, Recreation and Biodiversity Technical Officer

Kent and East Sussex (West)

01903 703943

 

As you are probably aware, the non native invasive shrimp Dikerogammarus villosus has been found in Grafham water and Diddington brook in Anglian Region.

It is a voracious predator and kills a range of native species such as freshwater invertebrates and even young fish. It is thought to be spread via boats, angling equipment and birds. It prefers hard surfaces, particularly crevices and interstices between stones and gravel. It also likes to adhere to rubber surfaces.

For more details about this shrimp please, go to the INNS website https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/nonnativespecies/alerts/index.cfm?id=3 or the FBA website http://www.fba.org.uk/docroot/samples/docs/DVillosusID_Web.pdf

Please take a look at the pictures on the links above - we need to establish very quickly if this shrimp has been transferred around the country. If you find it in your area, please ask your local A&R team to confirm, as they have reference samples of the killer shrimp.

The shrimp prefers hard surfaces such as concrete and likes to adhere to rubber, so please check your waders/wellies (particularly the folds) and any equipment carefully when leavng a river/lake etc..

I am the National lead contact for monitoring issues and information for the killer shrimp - so please give me a ring if you have any queries.

Thanks,

Lindsey