PODCAST: Local firm encourages eating River Kennet crayfish, caught under licence, to ‘reduce damage to nature’

Local business, Kennet Crayfish Company, has joined forces with a local food writer to offer recipes for eating invasive crayfish caught in the River Kennet and other rivers.

After being introduced 50 years ago, the American Signal crayfish has grown into a huge population in our rivers, causing damage to river banks and other species.

After a change in the law which prevents the export and sale of live crayfish, the company is looking for customers for the crayfish in West Berkshire and England – and is sharing recipes to encourage this. They catch the crayfish in the River Kennet under a licence from the Environment Agency.

The company believe that if more people eat the crayfish, their damage to the environment and other animals can be reduced.

Please click on the white arrow above to hear Andrew Leech, Managing Director of Kennet Crayfish Company and Anna Fidler, local food entrepreneur and author, talking about this initiative.

NOTE: Please do not try to catch river crayfish yourself. It’s illegal without a licence. Kennet Crayfish Company have a special licence from the Environment Agency to catch the crayfish and operate under strictly controlled conditions. Details here.