Giant claw is found
Worries American crayfish are breeding in Ayrshire
A giant claw of an alien invader has now been found by an angler.
The devastating discovery on Sunday may suggest the feared American signal crayfish has become established in the River Ayr waterways.
A takeover by the unwanted visitor would plunge the salmon and trout population into crisis as well as eventually eroding banking.
Any established colony would eventually spread into other rivers in South and East Ayrshire.
Eighteen homemade aluminium traps first set last Tuesday all failed to capture any of the big- clawed invaders.
Trout- flavoured Kitekat was used as bait in homemade traps placed at key locations on a major River Ayr tributary.
Biologists with the Ayrshire Rivers Trust breathed easier as trap after trap was lifted and found to be empty.
But Trust manager Stuart Brabbs revealed: “I am sorry to say a trusted angler has found the claw of an adult, possibly detached from the body by an otter.”
In November we told how a single male cray was caught after a tip- off from an angling club.
It was the first time the alien breed had been found in Ayrshire, despite a vast colony in Loch Ken near Castle Douglas. They have destroyed the biodiversity and a trapping plan which removed an astonishing one million six years ago made little impact. They take over water systems and there is no way to control them once established.
Government env i ronment watchdogs are now to be contacted urgently for help for a full search as ART has no specific funds.
The five- inch crays can walk for miles on land, lay 250 eggs at a time and burrow three feet into riverbanks.
Six months ago a single creature in the Water of Coyle near Drongan was found by a fisherman.
The Ayrshire Rivers Trust have had to wait unit now for low and warmer water which triggers them out of hibernation.
And the wait has been agonising for the team of five, based on the old Auchincruive estate.
Project manager Gillian McIntyre and biologist Struan Candlish had special government permission for the trapping and by law had to check the pots every 24 hours.
But one after another was pulled out with the cry of “clear”.
Joy was shortlived when the claw was found several pools away.
Stuart Brabbs said: “This is dreadful news and may confirm fears there could not just be one - unless of course this has been a daft prank by someone with a grudge.
“I am alerting SEPA and Scottish Natural heritage as we need help.”
In November the trust was tipped off that an angler near Mill of Shield had
“caught” a cray on his line.
But it plopped back into a couple of feet of water after releasing its claw.
Pots were set in the area and it was quickly caught and instantly despatched.
Stuart said: “We had talked to Scottish Natural Heritage and wherever a crayfish the size of ours has been found it was too late.
“We had hoped this was a one- off ill- conceived introduction that just happened to be male. And hopefullyp y this might still be thehe case without live proof. of.
“We will be working ng with the River Ayryr Board, Club and other er agencies to establishh protocols and guidancee and exactly how to o proceed.
“Whatever happens s anglers have to get on n board with protecting g the other waters they y fish to ensure they y don’t transfer these e pests.”
Find Ayrshire Post in November