Basingstoke Canal Angling Association

Cray Fish Trapping On The Canal

We receive quite a lot of requests from people asking if they can trap cray fish on the canal.

The answer is “Yes”, but please be aware of a few rules:

You must only catch the American Red Signal cray fish.

These have large pincers/claws, which are red on the underside.

It is not legal to catch and remove the white clawed cray fish, which are indigenous to the UK.

You do need an Environment Agency licence to catch the fish.

These can be requested on the Environment Agency website – Environment Agency Website

You should speak to the BCAA Fisheries Officer (Richard Power), who will provide

The permission to catch on the canal, and can provide advice on how and where to

Catch the cray fish.

April 2010

From the start of the new season on June 16^th 2010, there will be a pair of professional

cray fish trappers working on the canal, on a permanent basis.

The Flowers brothers are well-known in the south of England for ridding rivers, lakes,

And canals of the dreaded signal red cray fish.

They are fully licensed, and approved by the Environment Agency and Nature England.

They will consult regularly with the BCAA Fisheries Officer (Richard Power), and we shall

Post regular reports showing the work undertaken and reporting on volumes of cray fish removed.

Here are a few photos for identification: