European crayfish as keystone species-linking science, management and economics with sustainable environmental quality.

Monitoring European native crayfish populations as indicators of biodiversity is an important tool in environmental management. Craynet will emphasis knowledge-based management strategies and a common European approach to management techniques; it will also develop the links between researchers, managers and sustainable policies for development, through rural agencies and regional programmes.

Craynet aims to establish for the first time a network of aquatic crayfish researchers and managers (“stakeholders”) to :

·        Identify trends in land use and consequent water in European waters, and their probable impact on biodiversity, as assessed by bio-indicators (crayfish are powerful bio-indicators for water quality and are also keystone species controlling ecosystems);

·        Discuss ways to harmonise national and regional legislation and to improve it at European level;

·        Identify research needed to solve management problems in crayfish survival and habitat and water quality protection;

·        Prepare handbooks on crayfish management solutions – bio-monitoring protocols; wise recreational use of native and alien species;

·        Produce publicity (website, documents, videos) aimed at stakeholders and the general public.

Expected impacts:

Synthetic published papers will be available about the works of different meetings- each being devoted to one of the native species and focused on a special topic as, for example, cultural heritage and endangered species, socio-economic aspects, conservation and management, importance of land-use and habitat deterioration, management of inland waters, interaction with alien species-. For the first time, it will be tried to study European legislation on water quality and fisheries; to develop electronic database for European crayfish distribution (3 native species^* , 7 non-native species) ; to edit an Atlas of distribution containing the generalized distribution of each species and areas at risk from crayfish plague, a description of each species and its habitat preferences, the detailed distribution of each species in each European country on a UTM grid, notes on the distribution of and threats to each species for each country and state of art of research in each country; to write recommendations on harmonising national and regional regulations and for improving EU legislation ; to produce European guidelines for bio-monitoring protocols for crayfish as indicators of biodiversity as well guidelines, recommendations and GIS maps of crayfish distribution with water quality after meetings with stakeholders ; to get leaflets and video an management.                                      

* only the 3 native species are illustrated in the map below.

Major project outcomes:

The topic “What is meant by biodiversity?” in the context of native freshwater crayfish in Europe was published: generally, the conservation of components of biological diversity, such as freshwater crayfish, produces benefits arising from the protection of the aquatic environment and water resources, as well as from the maintenance of both food sources and cultural heritage: Austropotamobius palllipes is considered as a flagship species of patrimonial value. Concerning Astacus astacus , the species is highly valued both from a recreational and economic point of view and exploitation is a prerequisite for its conservation. As the greatest threat is the spread of crayfish plague following the introduction of alien crayfish, if local people are allowed to catch and benefit from this noble crayfish, this is the best protection against illegal stocking of aliens. Social benefits also follow, in terms of research, education, and recreation and were particularly discussed with legislation during the third meeting “European native crayfish in relation to land-use and habitat deterioration, with a special focus on Austropotamobius torrentium .

The main objectives were to define the status of A. torrentium in the individual countries and to discuss necessary research activities and management strategies for crayfish protection, and to identify the necessary species protection programmes; answer the questions of whether legislation is working well in protecting vulnerable species; and detail the state of advances in conservation genetics and how to make progress in educating the public. A permanent connection between the twelve core members provided opportunities to check the lines of research needed and to prepare recommendations, a task completed during the final Firenze meeting entitled “European crayfish as heritage species linking research and management strategies to conservation and socioeconomic development”. This conference summarized the most relevant themes discussed in CRAYNET, such as the status of European endangered crayfish species, the research activities conducted so far, and the management options adopted by the European countries. A relevant addendum of the final CRAYNET conference was the International Workshop “Biological invasions in inland waters” (InWat), held under the auspices of the University of Florence. All proceedings from these thematic meetings.

The CRAYNET programme has diversified the means of dissemination by editing a series of leaflets, aimed at widest diffusion to the general public. The leaflet series is entitled “Save the European Crayfish” (N°1: “Your health is linked with the survival of our crayfish!”: N°2: “Beware of the crayfish plague!”; N°3: “Save our habitat”; N°4: “Tradition, exploitation and conservation of crayfish”). A poster “Crayfish of Europe” will give in a single view the best pictures of indigenous (ICS) and non indigenous Crayfish species (NICS) for exhibitions across Europe and a booklet “Identifying native and alien crayfish species in Europe” will be directed particularly towards managers, decision makers and third-level students. Future efforts for conservation and management of our natural resources must derive from a set of clear objectives, mechanisms for action, and commitment from all stakeholders. Apart from this, halting the processes of habitat degradation and species loss requires specialized solutions and an understanding of ecological processes. This is why one of the other goals of the European network CRAYNET –with its full title “European crayfish as keystone species-linking science, management and economics with sustainable environmental quality” – is to identify current crayfish protection programmes carried out in individual countries and to try to evaluate the projects aimed directly at crayfish conservation or at habitat improvement in order to protect crayfish environments. During the series of CRAYNET meetings (published as four special issues) different approaches and new skills were discussed in order to increase understanding of the advances made and positive results obtained on the management of native populations (species status, habitat, population, control of aliens, diseases etc.). The meetings provided opportunities to know workers from different countries, to better understand the ecological requirements of the different species at the level of their distribution areas, to generate collaborations, to exchange results about positive or negative experiments with monitoring protocols, and to attempt common conservation strategies.

For more information about the Craynet project, click here.

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