NON-native crayfish are “sucking the life” out of the Tees around Barnard Castle, the dale’s fishing fraternity has warned.
Members of Barnard Castle Angling Club say there is “confusion, frustration, upset and unanswered questions” about how signal crayfish got into the river and how they are affecting fish stocks.
The club is urging Environment Agency officials to address the situation as a matter of urgency.
At a meeting of the angling club committee, treasurer Maurice Eustace said membership had fallen dramatically to just 56, with the effect of crayfish on the river one of the leading causes.
Mr Eustace said the fall in membership had resulted in a £1,000 loss of income.
“This last year has seen the biggest decrease in members since I was involved,” he said.
In an effort to tackle the situation, secretary Frank Harrison has written to the Environment Agency’s fisheries team highlighting the isssue and asking for help to tackle the crayfish problem.
“The members are crying out for something to be done. Unfortunately, the club is unable to respond,” he said.
Mr Harrison added: “We investigated the possibility of trapping or netting them [signal crayfish] so we went for a licence.
“But we were told the Durham area is not able to have licences as crayfish numbers are not high enough to take action.” Mr Harrison said one upside to the current situation was an increase in the otter population, which feeds on the crayfish.
If trapping and netting are not allowed, one solution put forward by anglers was to stock the Tees with barbel or chub. Mr Harrison said: “The river used to have chub, but they have naturally died out. Introducing them back into the river could be very beneficial. However, this will cost money which the club now doesn’t have.”
He said members had noted how the Skerne at Darlington had been restocked with course fish.
“Would something similar be possible for Barnard Castle? Otherwise our hands are completely tied at this time,” he added.
The club has invited officials from the Environment Agency to attend a meeting with anglers to discuss the crayfish situation.
A spokeswoman said the Environment Agency fully understood the club’s concerns and officials hoped to attend a meeting soon to discuss them in more detail.
She added: “Ultimately, trapping doesn’t control crayfish. There is evidence to show it makes the situation worse.
“Regarding fish stocking, we will not be releasing chub into the river. Fish play only a small part in crayfish predation and would not control numbers. Otter and trout are more likely to utilise crayfish as prey more effectively.
“Although the letter from Mr Harrison has alluded to the fact that chub were once present at Barnard Castle, our records suggest that Whorlton Lido is their upstream limit.
“The habitat further upstream is not suitable for them to thrive.”
She added: “We stock fish to rivers which are recovering or have been affected by pollution incidents and only release fish native to those specific areas to promote the river’s natural recovery.
“It’s a very carefully considered programme of restocking.
“We previously installed a fish pass on the weir at Barnard Castle to help trout and grayling stocks.”
