Water quality in Wales put at risk by killer shrimp

The water quality in Wales has been put at risk after environmental experts discovered an invasive species of shrimp in the country's rivers.

Environment Agency Wales has confirmed that dikerogammarus villosus has been found at Cardiff Bay and Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir in Port Talbot.

The non-native species poses a threat to the water quality of Welsh rivers, as it eats young fish, insect larvae and shrimp.

Biologists have also said that the species, which is originally from a region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, can change the habitat of the water, putting other animals at risk.

Director of Environment Agency Wales Chris Mills said: "It can alter the food chain and our ecosystem by increasing the competition for food and the native species that rely on the insects could go elsewhere."

Mr Mills added that water monitoring will continue to determine the extent of the problem and people were advised by the Environment Agency to clean their boat before and after use and drain all bilge water to control the spread of the shrimp.

Posted by Claire Manning