That's my understanding, yes.
If caught they may not be returned. Equally one needs an EA licence to go trapping them. I suspect the licence is all about prevention of accidental UK crayfish captures.
The numbers trapped are shocking. My Club has used several people licenced by the EA, they soon lose interest and give it up, it seems. But the returns have been extraordinary. How about half a ton of Signal Crayfish trapped from just a two mile stretch of river?
And next year the same ammount again from the same stretch.
I don't know how fast they can move, but that number of crustacea simply MUST be having an effect, a significant effect, I'd guess, on the food chain in our rivers and lakes.
If there were abundant fish in the rivers, well OK...but there aren't and these animals are likely to be playing a part in that I feel.
Has anyone ever done scientific research to see what they actually eat and what effect it has?