{"id":82626,"date":"2017-07-17T13:07:39","date_gmt":"2017-07-17T13:07:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=f1cf8e9542553dfbd81e6ff0120fc7f3"},"modified":"2017-07-17T13:07:39","modified_gmt":"2017-07-17T13:07:39","slug":"press-release-threatened-native-species-finds-safety-in-lincolnshire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=82626","title":{"rendered":"Press release: Threatened native species finds safety in Lincolnshire"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"govspeak\">\n<p>Efforts to protect the UK\u2019s only native species of crayfish have seen almost 600 specimens moved to protected new homes in Lincolnshire.<\/p>\n<p>The endangered white-clawed crayfish have been transferred to two secluded locations, chosen for their potential as safe havens.<\/p>\n<p>Known as \u2018Ark Sites\u2019, the carefully selected refuges have all the characteristics needed for the crayfish to establish a thriving colony, including good-quality water, suitable habitat, and an isolated location.<\/p>\n<p>Most importantly, they will be safe from the threat of their non-native counterparts, the North American Signal crayfish.  This invasive species out-competes our own for food and habitat, and carries a fungal disease that devastates native populations.<\/p>\n<p>Dr Chris Extence, Environment Agency team leader for Analysis and Reporting, said:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"last-child\">Bringing our native crayfish into the safety of an Ark Site is vital to protecting them from these threats, safeguarding their long-term survival and stability.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>White-clawed crayfish are the only native species of crayfish in Britain. Although protected by law, numbers have declined dramatically in recent years and established populations are becoming increasingly vulnerable.<\/p>\n<p>In Lincolnshire, the Upper Witham has long been a stronghold for native crayfish, but they are increasingly under threat from Signals.  In total, 572 specimens were moved into two undisclosed locations in Lincolnshire two weeks ago: a limestone stream in the county\u2019s south west and a chalk stream in the Wolds.<\/p>\n<p>Dr Extence added:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"last-child\">In the case of the latter, this is the first time in many years that this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has been home to native crayfish.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>A number of organisations, including the Environment Agency, Natural England, Lincolnshire Rivers Trust, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and Lincolnshire Chalk Stream Partnership, were involved in the two-day operation.   Environment Agency specialists will now monitor the colonies in their new homes.<\/p>\n<p>Dr Extence continued:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>The use of Ark Sites is nationally-recognised best practice, and just one of the ways we can safeguard the future of the native crayfish.<\/p>\n<p class=\"last-child\">A previous attempt at creating an Ark Site in Lincolnshire has been successful, with evidence of breeding \u2013 a strong sign of an established colony.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Refuges have been set up in the county for the country&#8217;s only native species of crayfish<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82626"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=82626"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82626\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=82626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=82626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=82626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}