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Gloves Off: Scientists Chart Chinese Mitten Crab Invasion

Submitted by Mandi on September 19, 2011 - 12:03pm

Press release 19 September 2011


Gloves off: Scientists Chart Chinese Mitten Crab Invasion

Become a nature detective and record the invasion of the alien Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) in rivers of England and Wales. Scientists from a number of UK research institutes, including London's Natural History Museum are calling for the public to become nature detectives this autumn to better understand the full extent of the Chinese mitten crab invasion and the threat these crustaceans pose to our rivers and waterways. Anglers, waterway workers, boating enthusiasts and other nature lovers to identify and record any sightings of the alien species via an online survey. The recordings will be used by scientists to clarify the full distribution of the exotic crabs in English and Welsh rivers.

Mitten Crab

 

 

 

 

 

Chinese mitten crabs are now one of the most notorious aquatic invasive species featuring in the international list of the world’s 100 worst invasive species. They are regarded as a pest because they cause damage to fishing gear and unprotected river banks, block water systems as well as compete with native species for food and habitat. Current records show that mitten crabs have established populations in the Thames, Medway, Ouse Washes, Humber and the Dee Estuary. Sightings from all rivers and watersheds will be useful but researchers are particularly interested in any from:

• The Thames west of Windsor to beyond Reading

• Tyne, Tees and Wear in the North East

• Dee and Merseyside and the

• Severn Estuary to the Isle of Wight in the South West.

Nature lovers can report their finds by phone, email or online and upload their photographs by visiting www.mittencrabs.org.uk. For more information please contact the following:

London and the South East:

Claire Gilby, Natural History Museum Press Office, 0207 942 5654, [email protected] Sophia Haque, Royal Holloway University London Press Office, 01784 44 3552, [email protected]
Tyneside and the North East:

Louella Houldcroft, Newcastle University Press Office, 0191 222 5108, [email protected]

North West England and Wales:

Bran Devey, Countryside Council for Wales Press Office, 02920 77 2403, [email protected]

South West England: Guy Baker, Marine Biological Association Press Office, 01752 633 244, [email protected]

• For more information about mitten crabs and the survey visit www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/life/other-invertebrates/chinese-mitten-crabs/ and www.marlin.ac.uk/marine_aliens

• The consortium of UK research institutes working on the project are:

• The Natural History Museum, London • Newcastle University

• Royal Holloway University of London

• The Countryside Council for Wales

• Marine Biological Association

• All records will be archived by DASSH, the UK archive for marine biodiversity data and will be available online via the project website www.mittencrabs.org.uk and the National Biodiversity Network (www.searchnbn.net ).

• Nature detectives can report their records by telephone or email in the following way:

• Sightings from the Isle of Wight to the Humber estuary can be logged with the Natural History Museum, 0207 942 6170, [email protected]

• Sightings from the Humber estuary to the Scottish border on the east coast and Scottish border to Blackpool on the West coast can be logged with Newcastle University, 0191 222 5345, [email protected]

• Sightings from NW England from the Mersey to the Dee Estuary and the whole of Wales to the Severn estuary, can be logged with the Countryside Council for Wales, 0845 1306 229, [email protected]

• Sightings from the Severn Estuary, Cornwall to Isle of Wight can be logged with the Marine Biological Association, 01752 633291, [email protected]

• The Chinese mitten crab, (Eriocheir sinensis) originates from the Far East, with a native distribution from the Province of Fukien, China. It spread throughout northern Europe following its accidental introduction into Germany in 1912 from ships’ ballast water.

• Chinese mitten crabs are currently found throughout Europe from Kemi, Finland in the north, through Sweden, Russia, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic (Prague), Netherlands, Belgium and England to France and the Atlantic coast Portugal and Spain.

• Mitten crabs feature in the IUCN-ISGG database of the world’s 100 worst invasive species.

• The first record from the Thames catchment was captured on the intake screens of Lots Road Power Station at Chelsea in 1935 with a second from Southfields Reservoir, near Castleford, Yorkshire, 1948. Three male crabs were found in 1976 at the West Thurrock power station, located approximately 36 km downstream of the City of London. An ovigerous (egg carrying) crab was collected at Southend-on-Sea in 1979 and a further 20 specimens were noted again from West Thurrock in 1982.

• During the late eighties the mitten crab population increased dramatically in the Thames as demonstrated by a survey conducted by the Museum funded by the Environment Agency in 1996. The most westerly sighting being the River Colne at Staines with reports of mitten crabs from almost every Thames tributary eastwards of this point. In October 2007 a mitten crab was caught on rod and line near Boveney Loch, Windsor Racecourse which suggests mitten crab are gradually spreading westward.

• Project sponsors include the Welsh Government; Environment Agency; Countryside Council for Wales; Non-Native Species Secretariat; Fishmongers’ Hall, London Bridge; and Tyne Rivers Trust.

• Winner of Visit London’s 2010 Evening Standard’s Peoples Choice Best London for Free Experience Award and Best Family Fun Award the Natural History Museum is also a world-leading science research centre. Through its collections and scientific expertise, the Museum is helping to conserve the extraordinary richness and diversity of the natural world with groundbreaking projects in more than 70 countries.

• Royal Holloway, University of London is one of the UK’s leading teaching and research university institutions, ranked in the top 20 for research in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise. One of the larger colleges of the University of London, Royal Holloway has a strong profile across the sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities. Its 8,000 students work with internationally-renowned scholars in 18 academic departments. Over 20% of students are postgraduates and 22% come from 130 different countries. Renowned for its iconic Founder’s Building, Royal Holloway is situated on an extensive parkland campus in Egham, Surrey, only 40 minutes from central London.

• The Marine Biological Association (MBA) is a professional body for marine scientists with some 1200 members world-wide. Since 1884 the MBA has established itself as a leading marine biological research organization contributing to the work of several Nobel Laureates and over 170 Fellows of the Royal Society. The MBA is a founder member of the Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership.

Fishing At Siblyback With South West Fishing For Life

Submitted by Mandi on August 26, 2011 - 10:08am

 

 

 

 

 

South West Fishing For Life launched their 3rd group in Cornwall in April The group has just 4 members at the moment but will grow as people hear about what fun and therapy fishing can be, in a beautiful location.

   As one member said “a soul healing experience”

We have lovely qualified coaches who run the days and ladies who meet and greet and provide refreshments.

Fishing at Siblyback

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 This group meets on the 3rd Sunday of the month from 2 pm – 4pm

 To find out more information about SWFFL please look at our web site www.southwestfishingforlife.org.uk

If you would like to see what we do on our days please contact:

Gillian
Holworhthy Farm
Brompton Regis
Dulverton
Somerset
TA22 9NY
Tel: 01398 371244

or email [email protected]

Chew Valley Lake wins 2011 Alan Faulkner Memorial Award

Submitted by Mandi on August 17, 2011 - 10:24am

 

 

 Suzuki way of life logo

 

 

*Press Release* Press Release* Press Release* Press Release*

Chew Valley Lake wins 2011 Alan Faulkner Memorial Award

On behalf of The Wheelyboat Trust, veteran actor and passionate angler Bernard Cribbins presented Steve Taylor from Bristol Water’s Chew Valley Lake with this year’s Alan Faulkner Memorial Award. The presentation took place on Friday, 22nd July at the CLA Game Fair. The main prize was a 4hp outboard motor provided by the award’s sponsors, Suzuki GB. Created in memory of the Trust’s Founder President, the award is presented annually to the game fishery that provides disabled anglers with the most outstanding service, facilities, opportunities and access. Previous winners include Eyebrook Trout Fishery, Grafham Water, Lake of Menteith and Toft Newton. Chew Valley Lake is Bristol Water’s largest reservoir at over 1,000 acres and was built in the 1950s. It is one of the country’s finest trout fisheries and is renowned for its ‘top of the water’ sport owing to its relatively shallow depth, fertile water and abundant fly life. It is a fly only water and is stocked annually with 50,000 brown and rainbow trout. It also has a healthy population of pike that are of increasing interest to game anglers, many of whom are turning their attention to this large predator – fly fishing for pike is now a well-established and popular activity on the lake. Chew was the first UK water to acquire the then new Mk III Wheelyboat model in 2006 to help it celebrate the 50th anniversary of its opening by HM Queen Elizabeth II.

 

Alan Faulkner Memorial Award Picture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo caption (left to right): Steven Foy (Sales Manager Suzuki GB), Steve Taylor (Assistant Fishery Manager, Chew Valley Lake), Bernard Cribbins, Andy Beadsley (Director, The Wheelyboat Trust)

The award’s judges were very impressed with Chew’s commitment to disabled anglers: the facilities there are first class, all are wheelchair accessible and the staff are helpful and courteous – essential requirements for a hassle-free day’s fishing in the Wheelyboat. As well as being a fitting memorial to The Wheelyboat Trust’s Founder President who conceived the idea of the wheelchair accessible boat, the ‘Wheelyboat’, the award is intended to highlight the needs of disabled anglers and encourage fisheries to ensure those needs are accommodated. The Trust is delighted that Suzuki GB sponsored the award again this year with the main prize of a 4hp 4-stroke outboard. Without their support and appreciation of the award’s aims, it would not be the sought after title it has now become. The Suzuki small outboard range, from 4 to 15 horsepower, has attracted a strong following amongst anglers, due to the quiet running, low emissions and 4-stroke fuel economy. In common with the rest of the 2hp to 300hp range, they offer excellent value for money. Background The Wheelyboat Trust is a registered charity that promotes and provides the wheelchair accessible Wheelyboat to fisheries and other waters open to the public all over the UK. It has now supplied 147 Wheelyboats since the Trust began work in 1985. It offers four different types of Wheelyboat to suit different activities - two of these have been designed specifically for fishing. This is the eighth year that Suzuki GB have sponsored the Alan Faulkner Memorial Award. The Wheelyboat Trust (reg charity no 292216) - Andy Beadsley, Director North Lodge, Burton Park, Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0JT Telephone 01798 342222, 07860 650023 [email protected], www.wheelyboats.org

Wheelyboat Press Release Summer 2011

Submitted by Mandi on August 3, 2011 - 2:40pm

THE WHEELYBOAT Trust’s 25th anniversary
year in 2010 proved an especially busy one
with projects getting under way and
Wheelyboats being launched all over the UK
and Ireland. A particular highlight was the
development and launch of a new model, the
Mk IV, in partnership with Bristol Sailability.
Other notable achievements were the six
Coulam 16 Wheelyboats and five Mk III
Wheelyboats launched along with five older
Wheelyboats that were refurbished and
found new homes.
The momentum has carried on into 2011 and new
projects continue to develop, including two new Mk IVs.
One of these will be operated by Thorney Island’s Army
Welfare Service in and around Chichester Harbour and
will directly benefit injured and
disabled service personnel.
Currently under construction is a
Mk III for the Tees Wheelyboats Club—
a club set up specifically to operate
their own Wheelyboat on the River
Tees at Stockton. We have been able
to help them raise the funds to acquire
their much needed boat.
None of what we have achieved
would have been possible without the
support and generosity of our donors,
either for individual projects or for help
with our day to day running costs. Our
tremendous thanks go to you all!
SINCE THE last issue of Waterwheels the following
Wheelyboats have been supplied:
Mk IVs
Bristol Sailability, Bristol Docks—P, 0117 968 8244
Mk IIIs
Tamar Lakes, Bude—C P N, 01288 321712
Rudyard Lake, Leek—C P N, 01538 306280
Leitrim APD, Co Leitrim—C T S P N, 00 353 719 651000
East Park Lake, Hull—P N, 01482 331966
The Waterside, Rollesby Broad—C P N, 01493 740531
Coulam 16 Wheelyboats
Blithfield Reservoir, Rugeley—T, 01283 840284
Grafham Water, St Neots—T, 01480 810531
Hanningfield Reservoir, Wickford—T C, 01268 712815
Bewl Water, Tunbridge Wells—T, 01892 890352
Farmoor Reservoir, Oxford—T, 07747 640707
Kielder Water—T, 0845 155 0236
Refurbished Wheelyboats
Elinor Trout Fishery, Kettering (Mk I)—T, 01832 720786
Butterstone Loch, Dunkeld (Mk I)—T, 01350 724238
Upton Warren OEC, Bromsgrove (Mk II)—P N, 01527 861426
Norwich Pike Anglers, River Yare (Mk II)—C, 07776 221959
Craufurd Trout Fishery, Fenwick (Mk I)—T, 01560 600569
Key: Fishing T (trout), S (salmon), St (sea-trout), C (coarse),
Sea (sea), P - pleasure boating, N - bird/nature watching
Wheelyboats Supplied 2010/11

Salmon Farming and Wild Fish 2011

Submitted by Mandi on July 13, 2011 - 12:11pm

Salmon farming and
wild fish just don't mix!
What is the problem?
There is overwhelming scientific consensus that salmon farms pose a threat to wild salmon and sea trout. Parasitic sea-lice from salmon farms can kill wild fish, particularly juveniles migrating to sea, while
farm escapees breed with wild adults, diluting natural gene pools.
Fish farms are struggling to control sea-lice problems. In Norway,
farm-origin fish can constitute up to 20% of salmon found on the spawning grounds.Salmon are currently farmed in open-net cages, allowing parasites,disease, waste products and pesticides to flow freely into the wild and
impact wild fish. And many fish farms are located close to estuaries important for wild salmon and sea trout, making interaction between farmed and wild fish inevitable.

Rare 'Kipper' Makes Welcome Return To The Tamar

Submitted by Mandi on July 13, 2011 - 11:13am

 

 

 

 

 

 

       Rare ‘Kipper’ Makes Welcome Return To The Tamar     

One of the UK’s rarest fish, the Allis Shad, is returning to the Tamar estuary in good numbers. Like the salmon, this relative of the herring spends most of its time at sea and only returns to freshwater to breed. Barriers to migration including weirs or dams and pollution are thought to be the main reasons for a severe decline in its numbers. Over-fishing is also believed to be a contributory factor. The Tamar estuary and the Solway Firth are currently the only known sites in the UK where allis shad regularly spawn. Environment Agency officers have noticed an increase in the number of allis shad on the Tamar this year. Not only are they more numerous, the fish are larger – in some cases up to 5 lbs.The population is strongly cyclical with boom and bust years. ‘We’ve caught some fine Allis Shad in our fish trap at Gunnislake – many of them above average size. We’ve also identified at least three spawning areas on the Tamar. Rare Kipper Makes a Welcome Return To The Tamar

 

2011 will certainly be remembered as a year when this species was present in abundance. It is excellent news because it is evidence of the high water quality and favourable river conditions in the Tamar,’ said Paul Elsmere for the Environment Agency. With its streamlined body and deeply forked tail, the allis shad closely resembles the more common twaite shad. Both species are members of the herring family. Being very bony fish, they are not especially valued for their culinary qualities. The allis shad is referred to by some as the ‘Bony Horseman.’ Outside the breeding season, the fish are mainly found in shallow coastal waters. Around April - June they enter large rivers with strong currents and stony or sandy beds to spawn.

 

Adults spawn at night with a great deal of noisy splashing Young fish remain in the river or estuary of their birth for up to two years before migrating to sea. A genetic study carried out by the Environment Agency, Bristol University and Marine Biological Association showed that the allis shad in the Tamar have a different genetic make-up to fish using the Solway Firth suggesting they are a distinct population. The allis shad is protected under the EC Habitats Directive and Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which makes it an offence to intentionally kill them or damage or destroy their spawning grounds. In Europe, the species is targeted by fly fishermen who value its hard-fighting qualities. Singing its praises, one angler on his return from a fishing trip to France, described the allis shad as a ‘turbo-charged kipper.’

Sea Trout Protection English and Welsh Version

Submitted by Mandi on July 11, 2011 - 3:30pm

English and Welsh rivers were colonised by sea trout at the end of the last Ice Age, and their descendents are the populations of brown trout and sea trout we know today (both Salmo trutta). Resident and migratory characteristics have developed within individual catchments, so that some fish now remain permanently
resident (brown trout), some always migrate (sea trout) and others can do either, depending on circumstances. It is believed that both genetics and environmental issues, such as habitat and available
food, play a part in whether or not a trout migrates to sea. What is a Sea Trout? SALMON & TROUT ASSOCIATION
Game anglers for fish, people, the environment.At the 1st International Sea Trout Symposium at Cardiff University in July 2004, four key issues emerged as being vital to the future of our sea trout stocks:
lSea trout utilise tiny spawning streams, but these are the very habitats most at threat from unsympathetic land use and agriculture. Finnish sea trout stocks have been savaged by fish being accidentally
caught in the coastal white fish gill-net fishery. The UK's coastal waters are exploited by bass gill-netters, and the potential threat to sea trout is obvious.lLarger female sea trout are often multiple repeat spawners with a potential to deposit many eggs over their lifetime, so maximising their contribution to local stocks. They have proven their fitness to survive in both the river and the sea and so contain important genes to pass on to their progeny. Protection of larger fish is therefore vital. Some scientific opinion suggests that salmon are on the edge of their viable range in the southern half of England and Wales. If our climate becomes warmer, as is widely predicted through global warming, sea trout will also be
vulnerable to the resulting environmental pressures, such as droughts, abnormal winter flows, inevitable changes to their growth/life history and,weakened by sub-lethal levels of pollution while in rivers, they might be unable to survive the additional stress of migrating from freshwater into the
marine environment.
What can you do to help?

Introducing BASS

Submitted by Mandi on June 9, 2011 - 9:11am

 

Bass Logo

The Bass Anglers' Sportfishing Society (BASS) is both a fishing club and an organisation dedicated to the conservation of the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax).
BASS was formed in March 1973 following a meeting of bass anglers interested in fishing for and conserving the species. It argues that the bass fishing we used to have was better than what we have now. Better in terms of both numbers of bass and the sizes of bass caught, by anglers. The Society’s long term aim is to restore, at least in part, that situation. To further that aim it has set up a Restoration Project.
The majority of members live in the UK, although there are members living in Eire and other parts of Europe. Members come from all walks of life.
The Society encourages its members to fish in a sportsmanlike manner. They are requested to observe the minimum size limit of 18ins (45cm) recommended by the Committee in those instances when the occasional fish is taken for the table.
BASS members occasionally organise 'fish-ins', at venues around the coast of the UK. These are not run as competitions, instead they offer a chance for members to socialise, share ideas and visit new areas of the coast.
BASS publishes a quarterly magazine, which is supplied free to paid-up members.

Great catch

Each issue is packed with information about the activities of the Society and its members. Contributions to the magazine are welcome from all members, pictures, articles and reader's letters appear in the magazine (and on the website).
All BASS members, with a personal email address, are invited to join the password protected members only forum, where members can 'meet up' and discuss all aspects of bass fishing. Even if a member is not into 'chatting', the forum is worth a visit, if only to read the wealth of information about bass and bass fishing that has been posted there.
The Society is affiliated to the Angling Trust, maintains a membership of the Marine Biological Association and also has close links with Irish Bass, www.irishbass.org
If you are interested in bass fishing, and protecting stocks of fish for the future, have a look at our website; where contact details can also be found:

www.ukbass.com

Alternatively contact us via:
Lee Campbell

BASS Membership Secretary

30 Daniel Street
Barry

Vale of Glamorgan

CF63 1QX

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