Bad news I'm afraid, I heard a rumour that the Killer Shrimp, Dikerogammarus villosus had been discovered in Cardiff Bay last week and have now had official confirmation that, unfortunately, the rumour is true.

I hope the measures taken by the Welsh Assembly match the destructive potential of the species but that doesn't seem likely given it's response ( that is no response) to the huge population of Zebra Mussels that have already established themselves on their doorstep.

A bad day for Wales' s green image and yet another indication that damming a river to create a superficially attractive waterscape for a public that values appearance above worth is utterly unsustainable.

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Musha rig um du rum da

Any theories on how they got there - bilges of sailing dinghys would have to be favourite wouldn't it?

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Save the softmouth trout

Colin,

That is a real blow to our beautiful river Taff, is there nothing to be done to eradicate this infamous little shrimp from our waterway?

What do the powers at the EA say about this situation?

They seem to be spreading throughout the UK rivers and lakes.

Sad to hear such news.

Mostyn

That was my first assumption and with luck the first target for bio-controls - but it is anyone's guess.

Having seen the useless controls introduced at Grafham and the unabated enthusiasm of anglers to continue fishing there - no doubt mirrored by the yachters - people's thoughtless dedication to their hobbies will inevitably guarantee the widespread distribution of this species.

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BBC News - Invasive 'killer' shrimp found at two sites in Wales

"Environment Agency Wales said it has now been confirmed at Cardiff Bay and Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir in Port Talbot. It is not known how it arrived there."


The thought occured that the species could have spread to Grafham from Wales and not vice versa?

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Save the softmouth trout

Missed that Mostyn and I agree with your sentiments, it's another blow to a fragile recovery of the Taff.

Apparently the EA will go public with this news later in the week, gawd knows what they'll do. As I said I'd pull the plug on the barrage, let the displaced wading birds return and let nature reestabish the balance, goodbye Zebs and Dikers - some hope!

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It must be able to fly as eglwys is a concrete bowl?? How did it get there??

TT

Thanks for the link FM - funny that press release coincided with an information request sent first thing this morning !

Who infected who.... the Nunnyd - Bay - Grafham link is strange as very little game fishing takes place in the Bay. Probably down to yachts.

From the Press release - Hopelessly inadequate.

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Dont like the sound of this,how fast can/will these get upstream?
Steve.

At a guess I'd estimate their eggs'll radiate out all over Wales and the rest of Britain at 70mph via cars until they hit the next bit of water unless some meaningful action's taken.

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