Working with partners at Buglife, AECOM, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and Birmingham Sea Life Centre, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust coordinated the relocation of native white-clawed crayfish which are under threat from non-native signal crayfish living in the same area.  

Over the course of the entire project, hundreds of the native species have been moved to ‘ark’ sites at secret locations in Derbyshire and Staffordshire, where it is anticipated the crayfish will thrive.  

In the latest translocation, 30 white-clawed crayfish were moved from a site near Ashbourne to Birmingham Sea Life Centre, where they will be quarantined before being transferred to an ark site in Staffordshire. Fifteen of these were carrying eggs, which will result in hundreds more young crayfish next spring. 

The species has been in decline since non-native American signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) escaped into UK waters in the 1970s. Signal crayfish are bigger and stronger than the white-clawed, can feed on them, out-compete them for homes and food, and carry a disease fatal to the UK species.    

White-clawed crayfish have been translocated in Derbyshire every year since 2022 from various sites including Kedleston Hall, Calke and the River Amber.  

Building on the success of previous translocations, the team behind the project has adopted a novel approach to collecting the white-clawed crayfish at some sites, known as the ‘drawdown’ technique. Brooks are drained and redirected downstream for a short period to entice the white-clawed crayfish out of their burrows so that they can be collected and moved to ark sites.  

At other sites, artificial refuges (one of the best refuges being a 10-hole brick!) are placed in the water in advance of the translocation. When these are lifted out, several crayfish can be found and collected. Before being transported, health checks are performed on the crayfish to ensure they were ready for the move.  

Kath Stapley, project lead and Living Rivers Officer at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, said:   

“This project has been a huge team effort for the Midlands Crayfish Partnership and we are proud to be working with our partners to protect white-clawed crayfish as part of our mission for nature's recovery. 

“Despite ongoing efforts to recover and restore white-clawed crayfish, in some places it is sadly inevitable that signal crayfish downstream will increase in numbers and make their way upstream. Where they meet white-clawed crayfish they will eventually wipe out the population. Nature needs our help.   

“For this translocation, both white-clawed crayfish and signal crayfish populations were together. Because of this, it is vital that the white-claws spend at least a month in quarantine, which would not have been possible without our partners at Birmingham Sea Life Centre. They will be spending a very Merry Christmas there, before being taken to their ark site early next year. 

“Further collections are planned at sites across the Midlands next year, so that even more crayfish can be safely moved.” 

Natalie Emmerson, Curator at Sea Life Birmingham, said: 

"We're delighted to be able to play a part in such important conservation work year after year and see this whole network of organisations and individuals working together to deliver a really substantial project for conservation of a native species." 

Liz Oldring, Crayfish Project Officer at Buglife, added:  

“It is a real privilege to be working alongside such a dedicated team of project partners, to help protect a local population of White-clawed Crayfish. This rescue is an important step forward in strengthening our long-term conservation efforts for this endangered native species. We are very grateful to the National Lottery and its players, as well as our other funders, for their ongoing and generous support and wish our rescued crayfish a very merry Christmas at the National Sea Life Centre!”