May 20 2013 Latest news: By CHRIS HILL, Rural affairs
correspondent Friday, August 31, 2012 A population of “killer
shrimps” has spread to Wroxham Broad, prompting an urgent plea
for boat users to “check, clean and dry” any equipment which has
been in contact with the water. The invasive, non-native species
dikerogammarus villosus had previously been recorded in Barton
Broad, the associated River Ant system and a small area around
the confluence of the Rivers Ant and Bure. But on Thursday, the
Environment Agency’s monitoring programme found the shrimp at
Wroxham – indicating the species is slowly spreading through
Broadland. The Environment Agency, Natural England and the
Broads Authority are working together to monitor the spread and
investigate the impact of the tiny 3cm shrimp. If it becomes
established and widespread, as other invasive species such as
floating pennywort and signal crayfish have, conservationists
warn it could threaten the native creatures which it feeds on,
like damselfly nymphs, water bo