Further to the thread started by Woz on the United utilities Float Tube ban - this absolutely scandalous article complete with unfounded accusations, and demonstrating total ignorance of float tubing appeared in the Daily Mirror today.

This must not go unchallenged! I will follow up with UU tomorrow and legal advice is already being sought by BFTA members.

The article states:-

A "killer" shrimp has invaded UK waters and is feeding on native fish and insect larvae, a water company has warned.

Dubbed the "killer shrimp" by biologists for its appetite, it often kills its prey and leaves it uneaten.

The predator also alters the ecology of habitats it invades.

North West water provider United Utilities says a new fishing craze from the US is behind the spread of the crustacean.

The craze has seen anglers use "floating tubes" - large inflatable tyres - to fish on water.

The tubes, which are easily transported, are thought to be helping the species spread by transferring eggs between rivers and other watercourses such as reservoirs.

United Utilities today confirmed it has banned the use of floating tubes at all its recreational reservoirs across the North West.

Originally from a region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, the shrimp has spread across most of Western Europe in the past 10 years.


Read more: "Killer" shrimp has invaded UK waters, warns water company - mirror.co.uk

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I've never read so much unadulterated claptrap disinformation in my life!!!! In view of the legal position, it may be best if comments are kept low key and any contact with UU kept to factual educational information.

Are there any Solicitors out there who would be interested in taking on a case for slander FOC for the good of all of us?

"It is believed the shrimp arrived in the UK from Eastern Europe on the hulls of ships."

Sweet Jesus, how you get from one (float tubes) to the other (hulls of ships) boggles my imagination. Would any of you that weigh in at 100,000 ++++ tonnes please respond?

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FAE, this is the UK - you have 'space aliens', we have 'killer shrimp' - the truth is out there !

http://www.headwaters.co.uk/headwate...ler_shrimp.jpg

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Don't know the animal in the picture of the article but IMO that is not dikerogammarus villosus. Shouldn't they be warned for spreading false information? As for KS being spread by float tubes, is there proof or proof it doesn't? I would wait for or even insist on scientific research that actually proves one or the other. I followed this debate on KS and was afraid this was going to happen. People don't stop talking about a problem and then suddenly it's is taken out of their hands and misused to serve another purpose than dealing with it.

Sad,
Johan

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Johan Janssens

!!! Point made, thanks !!! ... waiting might be the problem?

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My God Man! I had NOOOOO idea!

Time to restock the Bomb Shelter; just a matter of time, just a matter of time ....



Loved the photo, total class.

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"The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a
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Hello Splash,

hadn't read your post whilst writing mine (slow!!). We have the b*****s too over here and surprisingly NO ONE talks about it here. I can't help thinking that there must be a reason why. Maybe some hidden agenda's?

Johan

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Johan Janssens

Maybe, maybe not - I'd like to see some facts.

I'll aim to be balanced with my bullsh1t3 (unlikely) ... this forum has highlighted that the 'Killer Shrimp' tag is sensationalising an issue that might or might not be something to worry about (?); it's been suggested it's an inevitability and perhaps people have a point with that but what are the consequences and what is the magnitude of the 'problem'?

The 'Killer' question is what action should be taken, this is a fair point - no-one yet has proposed anything that adds up and we are in the dark, so hat's off to the realists.

The effects will take some time to be understood and by that time we may all be tut tutting (or maybe not) when we look back with hindsight at what was a secondary issue in the scheme of things, compared to global recessions, earthquakes in NZ and the overthrowing of soft dictatorships.

All fair points, but we might have to wipe a few traditional fly patterns off the current list of tyings and be dealing with a new set of habitat issues on all our waters? ...or we might not?

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I'm afraid you are right ... in that view (and I don't want to hijack this thread or restart a debate already held) I suggested overstocking contaminated waters with predators. Only to try and contain the problem in attendance of more adequate measures. I know the size of Grafham makes this look ridiculous and it won't help the rivers involved neither. But only talking about it will as is happening provide other (more powerful) groups with a stick to beat the dog. And then the s**t will definitely hit the fan.

Trying to do something (even in vein) is always better than sit down and let it come over you.

Johan

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Johan Janssens

No point in fighting changes that are natural and inevitable, it's called 'progress' ?

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