Kirchzarten (dpa / lsw) - Because of the ongoing danger from the animal epidemic cancer plague in the district of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, the authorities are extending the ban on entering the lower reaches of the Brugga. Among other things, fishing is now prohibited there until the end of the year, the regional council in Freiburg announced on Thursday. Even dogs are not allowed to bathe in the river and its tributaries.
According to the information, the fungus-like crayfish plague pathogen Aphanomyces astaci originates from the immigrated crayfish and endangers the protected and very rare jackdaw crayfish. In native crayfish, infection is fatal, and there is no effective treatment or vaccination. The disease is harmless to humans.
The crayfish plague is transmitted via so-called spores. This could happen, for example, via objects that have come into contact with contaminated water, such as rubber boots, landing nets and traps. They could also be introduced into a body of water on the wet fur of dogs or the feathers of waterfowl.
The authorities have been trying in various ways to contain the crayfish plague since it broke out in March 2019: two so-called cancer barriers in the Brugga and the draining of connecting waters are intended to prevent the spread. The ban on entry was issued for the first time at the end of July 2019 and gradually relaxed for some areas.
The crayfish population is checked regularly. This year, too, there were no live shrimps in the lower reaches of the Brugga, where isolated dead shrimps were still found. "This indicates a latent crayfish plague reservoir in this area, from which there is a very high risk of the disease spreading to essential components of the Brugga and its tributaries upstream," explained Regina Biss from the nature conservation department of the regional council.
