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Berlin Is Eating Their Way Through A Plague Of Crayfish

Berlin Is Eating Their Way Through A Plague Of Crayfish


Germany’s capital has been inundated with a plague of rapidly reproducing Louisiana crayfish. The crayfish, originally from the US, have become an invasive species in Berlin’s lakes and parks, and they have been trying to find a way to combat the crustacean threat.

A Berlin fishery was recently granted permission to catch some crayfish from two of the city’s lakes and sell them for human consumption. This comes after environmental authorities determined that the crustaceans did not contain dangerous levels of heavy metals or other toxins, and is in place until the end of 2018.

Since permission was given, over 1,600 of the creatures found their way into fishing nets, and that no limits were exceeded. Derk Ehlert, a wildlife expert from Berlin Senate’s environmental department, said “we expect declining quantities over the course of the year.” Unfortunately, catching crayfish is prohibited to everyone else if they don’t have permission.

The plague of crayfish was noticed last year when they were spotted on streets and paths in Tiergarten park, and the crustaceans reach up to six inches (15 cm) in length.