Southern Africa: A United Region With Disparate Invasive Crayfish Management Legislation and Policies
Takudzwa C. Madzivanzira, Adroit T. Chakandinakira, Ranja Andriantsoa, Nawa Nawa, Munetsi Zvavahera, James Machingura, David Goza, John T. Stacha, Lightone T. Marufu, Leon M. Barkhuizen, Lindah Mhlanga, Tamuka Nhiwatiwa, Tsungai A. Zengeya, Tatenda Dalu, Josie SouthABSTRACT
Coherence in national legislation and regional agreements is crucial in managing invasive species. Southern Africa is lacking the management capacity for postestablishment intervention of crayfish and therefore relies on successful biosecurity policy between countries with shared watersheds and land borders. Here, we examine the current state of national and transnational legislation regarding crayfish invasions in Southern Africa. Specifically, this study analysed the legal instruments governing invasive crayfish management across 10 Southern African states. The study revealed a clear disparity in legislative coherence between the countries. South Africa, which has a strong history of invasive species awareness, has clear and comprehensive legislation in comparison with many others, which lack updated regulatory frameworks that explicitly regulate invasive crayfish. The scarcity of data on the negative impacts of crayfish in Africa means that many policy documents are unclear as to whether crayfish should be described as established non‐native or invasive non‐native. Regional agreements also do not directly prohibit invasive crayfish movement across boundaries, which is a cause for concern as most invasions in the region have occurred as a result of limited monitoring in shared river basins. Although some states in the region are trying to prevent, control or manage the introduction of invasive crayfish species, others such as Madagascar are deriving socio‐economic benefits from their presence. This creates the potential for policy contradictions across transboundary river basins. The unhindered expansion of crayfish invasions throughout the region serves as a stark reminder of the importance of early regional cooperation, updated specific policies and scientific research to mitigate the ecological and socio‐economic threat posed by invasive crayfish and the protection of aquatic ecosystems in southern Africa.