The Midlands Crayfish Partnership (360G-NLHF-HA-24-00004)

Once widespread in English rivers, populations of White-clawed Crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) have plummeted since the 1970s and today this keystone species is Endangered throughout its range. The Midlands Crayfish Partnership will halt ongoing population decline and co-ordinate species recovery across the Midlands, bringing together multiple partners and forging new connections to secure the regional future of this important freshwater species. The project will: collate existing data and share good practice; identify suitable sites for the establishment of new populations; create habitat management plans to optimize conditions for White-clawed Crayfish; establish an ex situ breeding programme and translocate at risk populations; promote effective biosecurity protocols among river users; and conduct a wide-ranging public awareness campaign. Communities will learn more about local watercourses fostering greater nature connection, especially among green-deprived urban populations. More people will be empowered to take positive action for nature and get involved in invertebrate conservation.