Banned alien crayfish pop up in dam

The department of environmental affairs is on the tail of a large population of red swamp crayfish, an alien and highly invasive species, found in a Free State dam.

In South Africa, red swamp crayfish are prohibited freshwater invertebrates and a permit to possess them may not be issued. Those found in possession of the crayfish can be fined up to R10 million and/or face a jail term.

“Meetings and onsite inspections will be done in the next coming weeks to determine the extent of this invasion,” the department said, adding that it was working with the Free State government and municipalities in the Goldfields area to stop the spread of the species and to eradicate it.

Aquatic scientist Dr Leon Barkhuizen made the discovery after a tip-off. It’s unclear how the species got into the dam, but reports indicate they might have been released by members of the public, the department said.

Freshwater crayfish do not occur naturally in Africa, but are found in large numbers in Europe, America and Australia. The red swamp crayfish is indigenous to Mexico and southeastern US.

The species has spread, mostly for aquaculture and the pet shop trade. Where they have escaped into natural environments they have decimated indigenous crayfish species and other aquatic creatures and irreparably damaged aquatic systems. – ANA