WWT joins major conservation effort to protect native white‑clawed crayfish across the North of England
The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust is working with partners across the North of England to help protect the UK’s only native freshwater crayfish and prevent it from disappearing from rivers and streams.
White‑clawed crayfish were once a familiar part of freshwater life, quietly supporting healthy river ecosystems. Today, they are globally endangered, with populations having fallen by an estimated 70 to 80 percent in recent decades. Pollution, habitat loss, disease and the spread of invasive non‑native crayfish have all contributed to their decline.
WWT is joining conservation organisations from Lancashire and Teesside in the south to Cumbria and Northumberland in the north as part of a national recovery programme that aims to safeguard remaining populations and support long‑term recovery.
Northern partners include Eden Rivers Trust, Lune Rivers Trust, West Cumbria Rivers Trust, Ribble Rivers Trust, Tees Rivers Trust, South Cumbria Rivers Trust, Tyne Rivers Trust, WWT, the Environment Agency and Natural England. Together, the organisations will carry out vital conservation work across the region, including crayfish surveys, population monitoring and identifying potential Ark sites. These safe refuge habitats will help protect white‑clawed crayfish from invasive species and crayfish plague.
The work forms part of a wider national recovery programme led by The Wildlife Trusts and supported by Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme. Around 40 organisations from across England are involved in the largest coordinated effort yet to support the species.
Although rarely seen by many people, white‑clawed crayfish play an important role beneath the surface of rivers, burns and streams. As the UK’s largest native aquatic invertebrate, they help recycle dead plant and animal matter, support water quality and provide food for otters, herons, eels, brown trout and salmon.
For northern partners, the project is an opportunity to combine local knowledge, practical conservation skills and scientific expertise across catchments. By working together, organisations will build a clearer picture of where white‑clawed crayfish remain, where populations are most at risk and where long‑term refuge sites could help secure their future.
Stan Smith, head of nature and species recovery at The Wildlife Trusts, said:
“This programme represents a significant milestone for white-clawed crayfish conservation. For the first time, we have the opportunity to coordinate action at a truly national scale, bringing together the expertise of conservationists, scientists and practitioners from across England.
“Through a combination of targeted nature recovery efforts, breeding and reintroduction programmes, and innovative research, we can give this iconic native species a lifeline; together we’re creating the best possible chance for white-clawed crayfish to thrive in healthy English waterways once more.”
The programme will run until March 2029 and will support work to monitor surviving populations, understand catchment‑scale threats and identify where conservation action can have the greatest impact. Nationally, the project will also support scientific research into crayfish genetics, disease resistance and long‑term population resilience.
The project forms part of the Government’s Wild Again: Restoring England’s Wildlife initiative, delivered through Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme, which is supporting projects across England to help recover threatened native species and habitats.
Northern partners will share updates as survey, monitoring and Ark site work progresses.
