09-Aug-2011
- The Environment Agency today released
its 10 most wanted list of alien invaders
– the plants and animals that are threatening
to take over Britain’s waterways.
The Environment Agency
today released its 10 most wanted list of
alien invaders – the plants and animals
that are threatening to take over Britain’s
waterways.
Invasive species now cost the UK economy
an estimated £1.7billion every year.
They cause damage to riverbanks and buildings,
increase flood risk, crowd out and kill
off native wildlife and become so prolific
on waterways that fishermen, boaters and
anglers are unable to use them.
The cost of clearing land, such as construction
sites, of invasive plants can run into the
millions. The rise of invasive species is
also a major challenge in meeting tough
new EU targets on the ecology of rivers
and lakes.
The Environment Agency currently spends
over £2million a year controlling
invasive species, and is this year increasing
its efforts with partners such as Natural
England by targeting some of the £18m
funding provided by Defra to help more English
rivers meet the new EU targets.
While Britain’s rivers are the healthiest
for over 20 years and otters, salmon and
other wildlife are returning for the first
time since the industrial revolution, rivers
that harbour non-native species could fall
short of these tough new standards.
Trevor Renals, invasive species expert at
the Environment Agency said:
“River water quality is the best its been
since before the industrial revolution.
But if we don’t control invasive species,
we risk losing some of our precious native
species and incurring even more clean up
costs. We could also fall short of the strict
EU targets for our rivers and lakes.
“The Environment Agency will be working
with other environment bodies as well as
community and volunteer groups to manage
the spread of these damaging plants and
animals. We would urge everyone to help
stop the spread of these species by making
sure that garden and pond plants don’t end
up near rivers and parkland and thoroughly
cleaning any fishing, boating and canoeing
equipment when moving between waterways.”
The Environment Agency has the following
10 species on its hitlist:
1.Killer Shrimp
Dikerogammerus Villosus Dikerogammarus villosus
is referred to as the killer shrimp as it
has a voracious appetite. While only 3cm
long, this tiny terror kills a huge range
of native species such as freshwater invertebrates,
particularly native shrimps and even very
young fish, altering the ecology of the
habitats it invades.
Insects such as damselflies and waterboatmen,
common sights on British lakes and rivers,
could be at risk, with knock-on effects
on the species which feed on them.
The shrimp is currently found at three sites
in England and Wales. The Environment Agency
and its partners are working with anglers
and boat owners to make sure that the species
remains isolated in these locations and
spreads no further.
2. Water Primrose
Ludwigia grandiflora Creeping water primrose
has recently been sold in the UK as a pond
and aquarium plant. The plant can spread
rapidly – taking over from all other wildlife,
and completely covering waterways. In France,
Holland and Belgium this plant has caused
serious damage to the aquatic environment
and an economic study estimated that Ludwigia
could cost the UK over £150 million
a year if it were allowed become as well
established here.
It has so far been recorded in sixteen sites
across the UK. All of these infestations
are either being managed, or have been eradicated.
3. Floating Pennywort
Hydrocotyle
Ranunculoides Floating pennywort was first
brought to Britain in the 1980s and is still
sold as a plant for aquariums and garden
ponds. It now grows in the shallow margins
of slow-flowing water bodies (particularly
ditches, slow flowing dykes and lakes),
and forms dense interwoven mats of vegetation,
which can often be mistaken for solid ground.
These mats quickly
cover the water surface, ruining the habitat
for other wildlife and making sports such
as boating canoeing and fishing impossible.
The Environment Agency spent over half a
million pounds removing floating Pennywort
from rivers and streams in 2009.
4. American Signal Crayfish
Pacifastacus leniusculus White clawed crayfish,
which are native to the UK, are now seriously
endangered, thanks to the spread of their
cousins from across the pond – the much
larger and more aggressive American signal
crayfish. American signal crayfish not only
drive out native white clawed crayfish as
they compete for food and habitat, but also
carry a water-borne fungus which is fatal
to our native species. It is predicted that
white clawed crayfish could become extinct
in the UK within decades if efforts are
not made to protect them.
The Environment Agency is running the first
ever captive breeding programme for native
crayfish, releasing the new crayfish into
ark sites where they are safe from American
signal crayfish.
5. Topmouth Gudgeon
Pseudorasbora parva Originally from Japan
but now found primarily here in stillwaters,
the topmouth gudgeon can reproduce rapidly
with numbers in excess of 65 fish per square
metre. This tiny fish – which is only a
few centimeters long – crowds out other
fish, out competing them for food and can
also introduce disease that prevents other
species from spawning.
The Environment Agency is working to prevent
the spread of topmouth gudgeon, and also
eradicating them where they are found.
6. Giant Hogweed
Heracleum
mantegazzianum Giant hogweed was introduced
to Britain in 1893 as an ornamental plant.
It escaped from gardens and now colonises
many areas of wasteland and riverbanks.
The plant spreads rapidly along watercourses
forming dense colonies that suppress the
growth of native plants and grasses, leaving
the banks bare of vegetation in winter and
increasing the risk of erosion and flooding.
The stems, edges and underside of the leaves
have small hairs containing poisonous sap,
which can cause blistering and skin irritation.The
Environment Agency and other partners are
currently involved in a co-ordinated chemical
control programme to halt the spread of
Giant Hogweed.
7. Japanese Knotweed
Fallopia japonica Japanese knotweed was
first brought to Britain in the mid-nineteenth
century as an ornamental garden plant. Since
then it has caused serious problems in a
range of habitats – particularly roadsides,
riverbanks and derelict land – by displacing
native flora and even causing structural
damage. Every year, Japanese Knotweed causes
£150 million worth of damage and disruption
throughout the UK. Some waterways become
choked, railways need constant attention
and many development sites become overrun
by the plant.
In 2010, the government licensed the release
of a biological control against Japanese
knotweed.
8. Himalayan Balsam
Impatiens
glandulifera Himalayan balsam is a native
of the western Himalayas. Introduced to
Britain in1839, it escaped from gardens
and rapidly colonised river banks and areas
of damp ground. It is the tallest annual
plant in Britain, growing up to 3m high.
The characteristic purplish-pink slipper-shaped
flowers appear in June.
Himalayan balsam plants grow in dense stands
that suppress the growth of native grasses
and other flora. In autumn the plants die
back,
leaving the banks bare of vegetation, and
therefore liable to erosion.
The Environment Agency and other partners
support a variety of volunteer groups who
remove this invasive plant by hand from
waterways.
9. Mink
Mustela vison Mink are native to North America
but were bought into Britain in the early
20th century to be bred for their fur. By
the 1950s mink escaped from fur farms and
spread throughout the country. They usually
hunt for food in woodlands and near watercourses
and eat fish, small mammals and birds. They
also prey upon poultry on farms and fish
stocks in lakes. Mink often need to be controlled
because of the damage that they can cause
to wildlife, fisheries and property. They
are a particular danger to our native water
voles, which are protected in this country.
Currently mink are trapped and destroyed
to minimise the damage they can wreak on
our native species.
10. Parrot’s Feather
Myriophyllum aquaticum Parrot’s feather
originates from l South America and is sold
as a pond plant. It has now spread to over
150 sites in the UK. The plants form dense
mats that cover the water surface and can
severely inhibit navigation, fishing and
many other forms of water-related sport
and recreation. These dense mats cover the
water surface, starving the waterbody of
light, nutrients and oxygen which kills
many of the species living in it and also
increases the risk of flooding. They can
also tempt children or animals to walk across
it, exposing them to deep water.
Where this plant is increasing the risk
of flooding, the Environment Agency removes
it either mechanically or by hand.
The Environment Agency
advises anyone who finds these plants in
their garden or pond to visit the ‘be plant
wise’ website for advice on how to remove
and dispose of them. The agency also urged
river users to contact them immediately
on 03708 506 506 if they suspect that they
have seen killer shrimp in their local waterway.
+ More
Free conservation courses
15-Aug-2011 - The Windermere
Reflections Programme is calling on local
people who want to get involved in protecting
the local environment around Lake Windermere
to enrol on the free training courses at
the University of Cumbria from October to
December this year.
Free conservation courses
The Windermere Reflections Programme is
calling on local people who want to get
involved in protecting the local environment
around Lake Windermere to enrol on the free
training courses at the University of Cumbria
from October to December this year.
The courses are available
to people of all ages who are interested
in the natural or cultural environment,
who are eager to learn new skills or just
give back to the local community.
The training will be funded by the Heritage
Lottery fund and will be held at the University’s
Ambleside Gateway. They will be run by experienced
staff from the University, the National
Park and other environmental organisations.
Each course will have
between 20 and 35 hours of tutor contact
time with additional personal study on top
of this. The course will teach about the
issues affecting the Windermere catchment
and how these issues can be addressed.
The courses will also train people in how
to lead and coordinate volunteer groups.
Lois Mansfield, course leader from the University
of Cumbria said: ”Looking after the catchment
is an important job for everyone who values
the Windermere area, now and for the future.
We are offering these short courses to empower
local people to take positive action.”
Michelle Donoghue, Lakes Manager for the
Environment Agency said: “These training
courses are just a few of the many opportunities
that will be available as the Windermere
Reflections programme progresses during
the next 3 years.”
For further information
about the courses on offer or about the
work of about the Windermere Reflections
Programme then please get in touch on 011000
215797 or email: amanda.hancock@environment-agency.gov.uk
to receive regular updates.
