Six crayfish species occur in the Czech Republic: nevertheless, only two of them, namely the European crayfish (Astacus astacus) and the Stone crayfish (Austropotamobius torrentium) are native there. Numbers of the latter have been significantly declining and without managing its sites of occurrence, the invertebrate shall become extinct. Therefore, the Species Action Plan/Recovery Programme elaborated by the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (NCA CR) and external experts was approved by the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic. 

The Stone crayfish requires small watercourses, i.e. brooks with stone bed, preferring those with woody plant roots reaching the water thus providing shelters. The crustacean is extremely sensitive to watercourse canalization and poor water quality and it also suffers from poisoning and crayfish plague.  It is estimated that due to crayfish plague up to one fifth of the Stone crayfish population has died out in the Czech Republic during the last five years. The Action Plan/Recovery Programme´s long-term goal is to maintain the species in favourable conservation status and to preserve it on at least 200 kilometres of watercourses across the country. 

“Conservation and active managing the species´ habitats are crucial. Not only their size but also their quality is important. The measures implemented will support not only the Stone crayfish but also other wild species requiring similar natural conditions. Within species protection, a proposed amendment to Act No. 114/1992 on Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection introducing greater support to conservation of habitats and local populations of all Specially Protected Species shall be submitted to the Government for approvement during the summer. The new Species Action Plan/Recovery Programme will provide watercourses inhabited by the crayfish with the appropriate conservation. In addition, it will also enhance a close cooperation among the State Nature Conservancy authorities, anglers community and watercourse managers”, highlights Mr. Peter Hladík, Minister of the Environment of the Czech Republic.  

“In addition to unsuitable natural condition, the Stone crayfish has been significantly threatened by crayfish plague transmitted by non-native American crayfish species. The disease is highly infectious and native crayfish species have no resistance´. Unfortunately, no treatment of the individuals infected is available. ´Therefore, the only effective way to help crayfish is to reduce the plague spreading by cooperation with anglers and watercourse managers”, says Ms. Jana Hronková of the NCA CR, National Coordinator of the Species Action Plan/Recovery Programme.  

At present, the Stone crayfish lives at 38 sites in Central, North and West Bohemia and in the Krkonoše/Giant Mts. foothills where the only isolated population has survived. 

“Action Plans/Recovery Programmes helping to preserve threatened and rare wild plant and animal species in the current landscape are one of the priorities for the Government of the Czech Republic. Currently there are 13 Species Action Plans/Recover Programmes and others have been under preparation. The Stone crayfish is an umbrella species for various wildlife communities in natural watercourses. Although it has been difficult to provide it with the adequate protection due to the crayfish plague, the Species Action Plan/Recovery Programme will contribute to reducing the disease and thus to maintain the unique species for a long time in the Czech Republic”, concludes Mr. Hladík. 

The Stone crayfish is protected as critically endangered species not only by the national legislation, but also by the European Union´s one as well as by the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention). Pursuant to the EU Habitats Directive it is a priority species and in total 13 Special Areas of Conservation were declared for the Stone crayfish in the Czech Republic. 

Photo: Alois Pavličko and Pavel Moravec