Hundreds of Turkish Crayfish, an ‘alien’ species to the region, were found dead by local anglers on a stretch of the Waveney between Ellingham Mill and Oulton Broad.

Groups of 200-300 corpses could be seen at low tide on shallow exposed bank areas. It is estimated that over 2,000 dead crayfish have been counted during the last two weeks.

Norman Robbins of the Environment Agency, said that dead crayfish had also been found in the non-tidal areas. How far up is still under investigation, but it is thought a virus may be responsible.

The North American signal crayfish, another ‘alien’ species, but not as common in the Waveney as other rivers, can be a carrier of the so-called ‘crayfish plague’ – a disease caused by a fungus (Aphanomyces astaci). The ‘plague’ does the American crayfish little apparent harm but is lethal to native European species such as the white-clawed crayfish, and the Turkish crayfish.

It was also noted that tench were seen at Ellingham, gorging on the dead crayfish, just leaving behind collections of claws. This scavengers’ role is one not normally associated with tench.

On Friday a dredger driver working on The Wolds at Earsham reported plenty of live crayfish, indicating that the possible disease had not spread upstream.