Water primrose, quagga mussels and so-called ‘killer shrimp’ are just a few invasive non-native species that can be devastating to British plants, fish and ecosystems.
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Invasive non-native species can have a damaging impact on British plants, animals and ecosystems - by spreading disease, competing for habitat and food and direct predation.
Plants that grow profusely can block waterways while some animals can damage riverbanks - so they also affect economic uses of our environment and add significant management costs.
As a water user, you may unknowingly be helping to spread invasive species from one water body to another in equipment, shoes and clothing.
Last year we spent £180,000 trying to remove topmouth gudgeon from our fisheries - a particularly nasty invader which damages fisheries and outcompetes many of our native species. As a result, we’re hoping the species will be wiped out in Britain by 2017.
So what can you do to help?
Protect your fishery: check, clean and dry your kit.
Check your equipment, boots
and clothing for living organisms.
Clean and wash all equipment, boots and clothes thoroughly.
Dry all equipment and clothing.
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