Invasive species: help, advice, and apply to use herbicides and pesticides.
Non-native invasive shrimp found in UK waters
Dikerogammarus villosus, common name ‘invasive' (or 'killer') shrimp, has been found at three locations in UK waters: Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire, Cardiff Bay in South Wales, and Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir in Port Talbot, South Wales, and Barton Broad, Norfolk.
Dubbed the killer shrimp by biologists for its appetite for native species like shrimp, young fish and insect larvae, it can alter the ecology of the habitats it invades.
Invasive species awareness campaign
Our invasive species expert, Trevor Renals, was at the launch of a government campaign on the River Wandle in South London to highlight the problems of five invasive species:
What are invasive species?
Animals and plants that have been introduced to a place where they do not naturally occur are known as non-native species. Many of these live happily in the UK without causing a problem but a few become what's called invasive.
Invasive species upset the balance of the ecosystem as they may be bigger, faster growing or more aggressive than the native species. They may also have fewer natural predators to control numbers. The native species are often unable to compete and fairly quickly the invasive species take over.
Help and advice
We have published a new leaflet to give you advice on how to manage invasive non-native plants in or near fresh water.
Using herbicides
If you plan to use herbicides to control aquatic or bankside weeds please complete the application form below and return it to us at the address shown in the form. Please read the guidance notes first.
Current update, July 2012
Depitox (2,4-D) and 2,4-D Amine 500 are currently approved by the CRD for use in aquatic situations, however the revocation date for this aquatic use allows the storage and use of these products labelled for aquatic use until 31st August 2014. The final sales to users of this product for aquatic use is 31st August 2012. This only covers the products that is labelled for aquatic use.
More recent production of the products Depitox and 2,4-D Amine have a 'new' label, where aquatic use is no longer shown.
It will only be legal to use product in aquatic areas if the label on the can has aquatic use, and then only up until 31st August 2014 (the final use up date).
The CRD site will continue to show this clearance up until the 'final use date' of 31st August 2014. If you are proposing to use either of these products ‘in or near’ water please ensure that you have checked the product label.
Over the winter months we receive very few applications for herbicide agreements due to the nature of the application. If you know you will be carrying out a spraying activity during the following spring and summer, we ask that you submit your application during the winter months. We can then process your agreement much quicker and in plenty of time for you to carry out your spraying activity.
Aerial spray pesticides and herbicides
The Chemical Regulation Directorate (CRD) are the authority responsible for issuing aerial application permits to anyone applying pesticides from an aircraft. Due to the implementation of new legislation 'The Sustainable Use Directive for pesticides (2009/128/EC)' the way that aerial herbicide applications are assessed and processed has changed.
The CRD will be issuing permits under this new process from 1 June 2012. Under the new process our role has changed. We will be providing map based information to operators enabling them to carry out their own site based risk assessments prior to them applying to CRD for a permit. The team that provide these maps are the Permitting Support Centre (PSC) water quality team:
