CONTROL OF INVASIVE FRESHWATER CRAYFISH

That this House is concerned at the continued spread of highly invasive American signal crayfish and growing evidence of severe adverse impacts, including on salmon and trout fishing and extensive burrowing into the banks of rivers and canals; notes that invasive species are currently estimated to cost the UK economy £1.7 billion each year; further notes that in Scotland anyone introducing crayfish deliberately or accidentally or caught in possession of non-native crayfish can now be jailed for up to six months and fined £40,000; further notes that the UK's only native crayfish species is predicted to face near-extinction; further notes that unless action is taken, severe damage caused by alien crayfish species will continue to increase; and calls on the Government to give urgent consideration to emulating Scottish biosecurity control measures in England and Wales, to review the 2004 Crayfish Byelaws and to ban the live transport and sale of all alien crayfish species in England and Wales.