Endangered Native Crayfish Given a New Lease of Life in Devon
10th Jul 2026
Hidden beneath the surface of a Devon stream, a new conservation story is beginning.
We have released 70 endangered white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) into a protected Devon Wildlife Trust nature reserve, creating a new secure population for Britain’s only native freshwater crayfish.
This release marks an important milestone in our efforts to prevent the species’ extinction in the South West and is the first new wild population established through our Saving Devon’s Native Crayfish project, delivered in partnership with Devon Wildlife Trust and supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
For a species that has faced dramatic declines across Britain, this new population represents a vital lifeline — offering hope for the future of one of our most threatened freshwater species.
A Species on the Brink
White-clawed crayfish may be small, but they play an important role in healthy river ecosystems. As Britain’s only native freshwater crayfish, they are a vital part of our natural heritage.
However, their future is under serious threat.
Populations have declined dramatically due to habitat loss, deteriorating water quality, and invasive American signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus), which spread the deadly crayfish plague.
Devon is now home to only two remaining river systems where native white-clawed crayfish still survive. The crayfish released as part of this project originate from the River Creedy-Yeo, where surveys indicate that only a tiny remnant of the original population remains, while invasive American signal crayfish are present within the wider catchment.
Without conservation intervention, this species could soon disappear from the wild in Devon.
Creating a Safe Haven for Native Crayfish
Before these crayfish could begin their new chapter, we spent more than a year preparing the release site to make sure it could support a thriving population.
This included habitat assessments, stream surveys, monitoring to confirm the absence of invasive American signal crayfish, and detailed biosecurity checks to ensure the site was suitable.
Creating secure “ark” populations is currently one of the most effective ways conservationists can help safeguard the species’ future in the wild. These protected populations provide a refuge from threats and can support future conservation releases.
Pete Burgess, Director of Conservation and Rewilding at Wildwood Trust, said:
"This release represents an exciting and crucial step in our efforts to secure the future of white-clawed crayfish in Devon. This species is on the brink of extinction in Devon and without expert intervention, it will soon be lost in the wild."
A New Home in Devon
The new crayfish population has been released into a protected Devon Wildlife Trust nature reserve, carefully selected to give these endangered animals the best possible chance of survival.
Kate Langdon from Devon Wildlife Trust said:
“We are very proud to be able to offer the white-clawed crayfish a home at one of our nature reserves. It’s already a special place for nature, supporting dozens of rare butterflies, moths, birds and wildflowers, as well as countless more common species.
“To have been selected as a haven for this endangered crayfish species is a tribute to the nature reserve and the care that we and our volunteers dedicate to the place.”
Building a Future for White-Clawed Crayfish
This release is the first new wild population established through our Saving Devon’s Native Crayfish project.
Since 2022, we have operated a specialist crayfish hatchery and nursery in Devon, helping establish and strengthen ark populations that can safeguard the species and support future conservation releases.
Our programme is already delivering amazing results.
With expert advice from Bristol Zoo Project and the Environment Agency, and support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and South West Water, we have successfully bred more than 1,000 juvenile white-clawed crayfish from animals rescued from the wild.
These juveniles provide a vital source of animals for future conservation releases, helping us continue our work to protect this endangered species.
Help Protect Our Rivers
With native populations continuing to decline across much of Britain, we believe this Devon release provides an important blueprint for future white-clawed crayfish recovery projects across the country.
Everyone can play a role in protecting the future of this endangered species.
Anyone using rivers, streams, and other freshwater environments is encouraged to follow the Check, Clean, Dry biosecurity protocol. Crayfish plague spores can survive on wet boots, fishing gear, nets, and other equipment for up to two weeks.
Please remember that it is illegal to touch, disturb, trap, or move any crayfish in the wild without the correct issued licences.
By taking these simple precautions, we can all help protect remaining native crayfish populations and the wider river and wetland wildlife they support.
