Worries about new predator

THERE are worries about a new waterways predator, that has already closed part of the Grand Canal in Ireland—the invasive New Zealand Pygmyweed.

An Environment Agency spokesman told narrowboatworld that it was keeping a close eye on its rivers in case the new predator finds its way into the navigation waterways.

Could not progress

It has appeared for the first time in the Irish waterway, but soon developed into a thick carpet, forcing the closure of two miles of the canal between Kilpatrick bridge and Ticknevin Lock as boats could not progress.

Very similar to the dreaded Floating Pennywort that nearly closed the Leicester Section of the Grand Union Canal, (pictured) it quickly develops from a single stem, into a blanket that covers the water.

Highly invasive

It is a highly invasive aquatic plant which can form dense carpets in canals and alter native communities, deprive fish and invertebrate communities, block boat movement and inhibit angling activities.

It it also known as Australian Swamp Stonecrop, and has been known to cause significant problems internationally, and as such is a priority to control. The likely introduction is through garden centres, where it has been discarded into streams. It is illegal to plant New Zealand Pygmyweed in Scotland.

Trial

In an attempt to control the spread on the Grand Canal, Waterways Ireland, carried out a trial using matting to cover the canal, which was unsuccessful. Then it applied herbicide to this section of the stretch of water, with the plant then removed  across the full width of the canal using a long-reach digger.