TWO crusty old Anglesey bachelors are looking for a female to bring them out of their shells.
Staff at the Anglesey Sea Zoo in Llanfair PG fear that two crawfish are destined to remain bachelors unless they can find them a mate.
Rapidly falling numbers of British crawfish has made finding a female for the pair a tough challenge.
Sea Zoo owner Dr Dylan Evans said: "There used to be a lot of crawfish about," says Dr Evans. "I remember my grandfather catching them, and that they contributed a significant amount to his income as a fisherman. Now they’re rarely seen.”
Dr Evans added that the goal would be to increase numbers by putting the young into the sea in locations where male crawfish are thought to be.
He will use his keynote speech at the Bridge Marine Science Group’s Marine Sustainability Conference at Technium Cast in Bangor at 1pm tomorrow to send a heartfelt plea to anyone who finds a female crawfish to contact him.
BMSG Business Development Manager lent his support to Dr Evans research and conservation project.
“He’s already ran a highly successful and long running breed and release program for the Common European Lobster and is therefore one of only a handful marine scientists who are geared up for this type of project,” he said.
Relatively little is known about the species, which are about a foot and a half long (0.45metres) and mostly red in colour.
Recreational divers in Wales have already been asked for help monitoring crawfish levels following concern over a dramatic fall in numbers.
Crawfish - also known as Crayfish, Spiny or Rock Lobster - have a vital role in marine ecosystem, according to the Wales Biodiversity Partnership.
The Partnership is funding a project where Welsh diving clubs record sightings of crawfish during dives.
Dr Evans said that the reason for the decline in crawfish numbers was unclear and added. “We are now appealing to all fishermen to help by getting involved in this project which through cooperative efforts with the Anglesey Sea Zoo and other, will hopefully reverse this trend”.
To book a place at the conference, call 01248 718 010 or email events@bridgemarinesciences.co.uk