Global - Technology - Review

The red swamp crayfish has been hailed as the ultimate survivor for its ability to find food on land or in the water. Researchers have discovered that it is one of the most adaptable of creatures, able to find food and change its diet to suit the prevailing conditions.

Crayfish are particularly invasive and have been introduced in a number of locations to improve fishing for food stocks. A previously unrecognised problem has been the crayfish's ability to successfully adapt and destroy existing fish stocks and ultimately to dominate the ecosystem. This undermines the benefits of introducing the creatures and ultimately negates any benefit they can bring.