Held on the River Lark near Barton Mills, north of Bury St. Edmunds, this event was run at the invitation of Abby Stancliffe-Vaughan of the Brecks Countryside Project, which is funded by Suffolk County Council.

Escapes of farmed alien crayfish especially the Red Signal (Pacifastacus leniusculus) have resulted in an explosion in the wild. In total, nine alien crayfish species have been introduced into the wild in Britain, although the Red Signal is the one spreading fastest in East Anglia. Their burrows destabilise the banks and they are ousting our native white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes). They can travel overland and may be present on many rivers in Suffolk, but are particularly prevalent on the Lark where they were introduced as a result of crayfish farming. The Brecks Countryside Project is investigating means of control.

About 18 SNS Members including several Recorders attended the meeting. It coincided with a day when the Lark Angling Preservation Society (LAPS) were undertaking an intensive trapping session spread out along the river bank, using bacon on a line as bait, much like crabbing is done at Walberswick. The Brecks Project has identified trapping as a potential control measure as set out in the article on their work below.

Crayfish have recently invaded a fishing pond about 100m from the River Lark and the Project was keen to have an inventory of fauna and flora as part of an ongoing study into the effects of trapping on the population of crayfish in the pond. This was provided by the Recorders attending. In the bright sunshine there were good numbers of dragonflies and damselflies and a typical representation of aquatic fauna was identified by Adrian Chalkley. The flora, documented by Colin Hawes was also typical pond-side vegetation. The main comment from Recorders was that there was nothing unusual about the pond except the astonishing number of crayfish caught in the traps set the preceding evening (there must have been several hundred in this average-sized pond about 50m across). The catch were measured and sexed before disposal (mostly by being taken home for eating having promised that they would be carried securely and would not be released).

No population studies have actually been done; so for anyone looking for a new project this would be an interesting and productive exercise. The general consensus among those attending was that elimination seems hopeless. Controlling numbers through trapping would have an effect, provided there was some incentive – and commercial exploitation would appear to be an answer. This is already happening. The big problem with uncontrolled commercial trapping is the temptation to throw the small ones back, maintaining the population, and also introductions to other more convenient areas.

The climax of the day (for those who dared) was a lunch of delicious crayfish tails boiled up on the spot. This activity generated a great deal of debate - time needed for thorough cooking etc, wild food not being many members’ strong point!