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Report on the Distribution of INNS in the River Dee Catchment

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Report on the Distribution of INNS in the River Dee Catchment A Scottish Registered Charity No. SC 020751 Commissioned Report No. – 1901VS Report on the distribution of INNS in the River Dee Catchment June 2019 For further information on this report please contact: Name of GFT Project Manager – V Semple Galloway Fisheries Trust Fisheries House Station Industrial Estate Newton Stewart DG8 6ND Telephone: 01671 403011 E-mail: [email protected] This report should be quoted as: Galloway Fisheries Trust. June 2019. Report on the distribution of INNS in the River Dee Catchment. Report 1901VS This report, or any part of it, should not be reproduced without the permission of Galloway Fisheries Trust. This permission will not be withheld unreasonably. 40T© Galloway Fisheries Trust40T Year – 2019 Summary Report on the distribution of INNS in the River Dee Catchment Commissioned Report No.: 1901VS Year of publication: June 2019 Keywords Japanese knotweed; Himalayan balsam; American skunk cabbage; Signal crayfish; River Dee; Electrofishing; Galloway Background Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) are plants or animals which have been introduced to an area by human activity to which they are not naturally found. The invasive nature of these species is ecologically, environmentally and economically damaging. Their ability to spread and dominate riparian areas is altering ecosystems and has led to the ongoing destruction and loss of natural habitats. This report focuses on six key species which are present within the Kirkcudbrightshire Dee catchment. These include North American signal crayfish, American mink, American skunk cabbage, Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam and most recently Giant hogweed. Main findings The presence of Signal crayfish were checked at 280 Galloway Fisheries Trust electrofishing sites completed within the River Dee catchment. Signal crayfish were recorded at 23 of the electrofishing sites. Numerous reports of Signal crayfish, invasive plants and Mink were provided by the public following a social media request and targeted emails. The 27 un-confirmed reports of crayfish suggest crayfish presence over a wider area than confirmed records show. The un-confirmed reports were spread across the River Dee from Loch Ken down to Arkland, upper Water of Ken at Smittons Bridge, Mossdale Loch and Woodhall Loch. Most of the reports from the public on the distribution of invasive plants in the catchment matched those Galloway Fisheries Trust were aware of from previous surveys and historical reports. The first report of Giant hogweed has been made to Galloway Fisheries Trust within the Dee catchment however it is a coastal population and the risk of it traveling upstream is low. Reports of Mink in the catchment indicates that the species is well established and is widely distributed. For further information on this project contact: Name of Project Manager – V Semple Telephone No. of Project Manager – 01671 403011 UTable of Contents Page 1. INTRODUCTION 3 2. METHODOLOGY 4 2.1 Electrofishing data for surveying Signal crayfish 4 2.2 Confirmed sightings 4 2.3 Un-confirmed reports 4 2.3.1 Historical reports made to GFT 4 2.3.2 Social media search and requests 5 3. RESULTS 6 3.1 Electrofishing data 6 3.2 Historical reports made to GFT 8 3.3 Reports found by internet search and made to GFT via social media 8 3.3.1 American signal crayfish 8 3.3.2 Invasive plants 10 3.3.3 American mink 10 3.4 Known locations of INNS plants through GFT surveys undertaken since 2011 13 3.4.1 Japanese knotweed 13 3.4.2 American skunk cabbage 13 3.4.3 Himalayan balsam 13 3.4.4 Giant hogweed 13 4. DISCUSSION 14 4.1 American signal crayfish 14 4.1.1 Control of Signal crayfish 14 4.1.2 Confirmed and un-confirmed Signal crayfish reports 14 4.1.3 High risk areas for potential crayfish introductions 17 4.1.4 Priority areas for future crayfish surveys 17 4.2 Invasive Non-Native species of plants 19 4.2.1 Risk of spread 19 4.2.2 Control of Invasive Non-Native Species of plants 20 4.2.3 Future surveys 20 4.3 American mink 21 4.3.1 Control of American mink 21 4.4 Legislation 21 2 1. INTRODUCTION Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) are plants or animals which have been introduced to an area by human activity to which they are not naturally found. The invasive nature of these species is ecologically, environmentally and economically damaging. Their ability to spread and dominate riparian areas is altering ecosystems and has led to the ongoing destruction and loss of natural habitats. This report focuses on six key species which are present within the Kirkcudbrightshire Dee catchment. These include North American signal crayfish, American mink, American skunk cabbage, Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam and most recently Giant hogweed. North American signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) is an Invasive Non-Native (INN) invertebrate species which has become established in some Scottish waters. It is recognised that they can impact on native species, in particular due to their burrowing activity, competing with fish species for habitat, grazing pressure on aquatic plants and predation on invertebrates, fish and fish eggs. They appear to be able to successfully colonise a wide variety of freshwater habitats. The first record of American mink (Neovison vison) in the Kirkcudbrightshire Dee catchment was in 19631. They were introduced into the wild through releases from Mink farms throughout the UK and the first recorded breeding activity in Scotland was in 1962 in Aberdeenshire. In the Kirkcudbrightshire Dee catchment there is little in the way of consistent trapping and monitoring so it is not possibly to quantify current densities, only spatial distribution. Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), American skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanus) and Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) are all invasive species of plants which are found in the Dee catchment. Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam are both negatively impacting riparian areas due to their ability to dominate large areas of ground and outcompete native plants. When allowed to grow unchecked they spread throughout river systems and negatively affect local biodiversity. As these species are annual plants they die back in winter, exposing large areas of bare river bank which leads to increased rates of bankside erosion resulting in habitat loss. The presence of Giant hogweed is currently unconfirmed on the River Dee however there has been a sighting in the coastal reaches of the catchment. If this sighting is accurate it is concerning that a new species has been introduced, most likely through seed dispersal by the sea. Giant hogweed is highly invasive with each plant producing an average of 20,000 seeds which can lie dormant in the ground for over 10 years. The primary concern with this species is the risk to public health due to its notoriously dangerous sap. In the present study Galloway Fisheries Trust (GFT) will provide updated distribution information of INNS within the Kirkcudbrightshire Dee catchment. The study will utilise electrofishing and habitat surveying data already held by GFT and will collect un-confirmed reports from the public to direct future survey and treatment programmes. 1 Lever, C., 1977. The naturalised animals of the British Isles. Granada Publishing 3 2. METHODOLOGY 2.1 Electrofishing data for surveying Signal crayfish The GFT undertakes electrofishing at up to 200 sites annually across the Galloway river catchments. While the primary aim of these surveys are to investigate the resident fish populations, if certain survey protocols are covered then they would also be expected to capture any Signal crayfish present in the survey site. The Scottish Signal crayfish distribution survey in 2009 developed a standard crayfish survey methodology, using combinations of kick sampling, electrofishing and baited trap setting, to assess the presence or absence of Signal crayfish. As part of a Glasgow University PhD2, further investigations through a comparative field study on the River Clyde was used to test the efficacy of the different sampling methods for detecting Signal crayfish in shallow, flowing waters. This report recommended a combination of kick-sampling and electrofishing as a Signal crayfish detection protocol. The kick sampling was considered effective at capturing the very young age classes of crayfish while electrofishing caught samples of the older larger crayfish. Thus electrofishing would be expected to catch Signal crayfish if an established population was present. The electrofishing data held by GFT had all been collected to a recognised standard; Scottish Fishery Co-ordination Centre (SFCC) protocol. In Galloway, it is confirmed that Signal crayfish are present in parts of the Kirkcudbrightshire Dee. For this study GFT reviewed electrofishing data from Kirkcudbrightshire Dee collected between 2010 and 2018. Data was only included in the study if it was area based electrofishing, a banner net was used and environmental conditions (water temperature, water flow) were suitable for effective use of electrofishing. The presence or absence of crayfish was noted for each site. 2.2 Confirmed sightings GFT have been treating INNS within the Dee catchment since 2011 and have a basic understanding on the current distribution. Surveys were carried out in 2019 to provide additional reports. Along with this, confirmed reports from other various sources have contributed to a map which presents currently known populations and their range within the river system. 2.3 Un-confirmed reports Information was collated from un-confirmed reports of INNS within the Dee catchment from a variety of sources as described below. All other historical reports of INNS have been either confirmed or denied. 2.3.1 Historical reports made to GFT Possible sightings of INNS are reported to GFT from time to time by members of the public and anglers. These reports are often vague with little information on their exact location. GFT will often investigate these reports if they appear plausible.
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