Experts have warned that the Chinese Mitten Crab can prove disastrous for Scotland's salmon and trout and rivers. This invasive species is counted in the list of top 100 worst alien species in the world.

The crabs, which have been named after the fur on its claws, eat fish eggs and through burrowing, it damage riverbanks. Richie Miller, a senior biologist at Aberdeenshire's River Deveron District Salmon Fishery Board, said that the crab can even lead to misery in the north-east.

Lately, angler John Clark has found the crab in the River Clyde at Dalmarnock. It is for the first time that this invasive species has been found in Scotland. Miller made it clear that the crab can invade other Scottish rivers as well.

Experts said that the crab lives in the rivers Thames, Medway and Ouse and has recently been spotted in Welsh and Irish rivers. "They are one of the worst kind of invasive species by all accounts, I know that they are in the Thames and have done a lot of damage down there to their riverbanks", affirmed Miller.

Generally, the crabs live in freshwater and come into salt water to breed. Lorraine Hawkins, manager of the River Dee Trust, was of the view that it is a matter of concern that one more invasive species is acting as a threat for Scottish rivers.

Due to sea migration routine, salmon population has already reduced significantly. Therefore, there is a need to make sure that the river environment can be improved.

Dr. Alan Wells, policy and planning director for the Association of Salmon Fishery Boards (ASFB), recommended that anglers and other users of the freshwater environment should pay great attention towards biosecurity. They should also make sure that their fishing gear and other equipments are disinfected when moving catchment to catchment.