Invasive Crayfish Threaten Fisheries

Large and aggressive, the rusty crayfish is damaging fisheries outside its native range.

On June 14, I urged angler support in Missouri for a proposal to protect fisheries from invasive crayfish.

Here’s more information from the Missouri Department of Conservation about the damage that invasive crayfish can do and the need to prohibit their sale.

And here’s an excerpt:

 “DiStefano says invasive crayfish have been shown to out-compete native crayfish, compete with game fish for food, destroy aquatic plant beds used as spawning grounds and nurseries for game fish, and are known to also eat fish eggs. This combined with reduced spawning habitat and food means fewer and smaller fish.

“A study of lakes in Vilas County, Wisc., documented resource damage from invasions of rusty crayfish of more than $1 million annually.”