Long term strategy

Without intervention it is predicted that WCC may become extinct in Devon within the next decade.

Once established, the WCC hatchery will be used to create breeding populations within existing Devon ark sites and within a newly constructed ark site delivered through this grant scheme. These  populations will then be used for future translocations and reinforcements into other suitable ark sites and other waterbodies where these are identified through follow on projects.

The Saving Devon’s Native Crayfish (SDNC) project is delivering a strategic programme of breeding and rehoming these ‘at-risk’ populations of white-clawed crayfish to new safe sites in Devon, and is a priority action identified by the South West Crayfish Partnership(*) and a priority action identified through the Creedy Catchment Crayfish Conservation project action plan. There are wider regional crayfish strategies which link into an overarching national crayfish strategy. The SDNC project is an excellent example of landscape scale strategic conservation with an active national steering group.

The Saving Devon’s Native Crayfish project is managed by the Wildwood Trust (Devon) and is funded through Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme. The project is also supported by South West Water and by a Devon Environment Foundation grant.

*SWCP is a collaboration between Bristol Zoological Society, Cefas, the Environment Agency, Wildlife Trusts, Buglife, the Invertebrate Trust, water companies and independent practitioners.