RESIDENTS are being asked not to take Crayfish from a lake in Bracknell.
The town council issued the warning after the small lobster-like creatures were spotted in North Lake, near South Hill Park.
According to a Facebook post, Bracknell Town Council is waiting for a licensed trapper and the environment agency to advise how to remove the fish safely.
READ MORE: All the celebrities spotted in Bracknell
The post warns: “Please DO NOT take the crayfish out of North Lake. There are a lot of rules around catching crayfish some of which are detailed below:
• Native crayfish are a protected species. They are now only found in a few parts of England and Wales. You can’t trap them to eat or sell.
• You can trap non-native crayfish – but only if you have written consent from the Environment Agency and you use the trap identity tags that we will send you.
• You also need permission from the landowner.”
READ MORE: Massive queues at Bracknell McDonald's
A Facebook post from a resident in the community group We Love Bracknell at the start of June told how a couple of young people were spotted taking the crayfish from the lake before putting them back in.
However, Bracknell Town Council responded to the post claiming it is illegal to place them back in the water once they have been caught.
READ MORE: Why people are angry about this kebab van's plan to open 18 hours a day
According to a report from ITV, crayfish are often removed from waterways because they eat the eggs of other fish and damage riverbanks by burrowing into them.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here