2D - AMERICAN CRAB

RED SWAMP CRAWFISH

(American Crab)

  In the 70s, the native crab species in our rivers was starting to disappear because of a disease called “ Afanomicosis” . In order to repopulate the rivers, they introduced a new species: the red swamp crawfish, also known as the “American Crab”.  

  But three years ago they discovered that the solution was worse than the starting problem, especially in the "Ibaizabal" river and Urrunaga's reservoir. This kind of crab is really aggressive and it’s stopping the repopulation of the native one. Whereas the native one only eats “detritus”, the invasive one eats everything that they find (eggs, algae, tadpoles…). This doesn’t help biodiversity. Apart from that, the native one helps to keep the rivers clean, however, the American one doesn’t.

    Trying to solve this massive problem, the government has removed the limit on the amount of crabs you can fish, but there is still a limit on the amount of them you can take home. What other solutions can you think about to solve this issue?

References:

EL CORREO

MACIZODELGORBEA