I
Ian Cloke
Guest
Hungry fish are being used to help control a population of non-native aquatic competitors in a Wirral pool.
Topmouth Gudgeon, a species of fish not native to the UK, are causing a problem because of their ability to reproduce up to four times the rate of other fish and take over their habitat.
Previously the only way to get rid of the invasive fish to protect the native special was to poison them, but now the Environment Agency is experimenting with a more natural and humane solution.
Early this year, eight large perch were introduced into the Wirral pool to see if they would feed on the smaller Topmouth Gudgeon.
Environment Agency fisheries technical officer Paul Blake said: "We are the first organisation in the country to try out this biological method of getting rid of Topmouth Gudgeon.
"We?ve checked the lake recently and we?re pretty sure that the perch are having an impact on the numbers of Topmouth Gudgeon in the pool.
"What?s even better news is that the perch have also spawned so there will be more perch to prey on the invasive fish in future years."
Topmouth Gudgeon are among the most damaging species to invade western Europe and can devastate the ecology of rivers and lakes.
Not only do they breed quickly, but they eat the eggs of other fish and are highly tolerant of environmental conditions. They were probably introduced into the wild through the ornamental fish trade.
Topmouth Gudgeon, a species of fish not native to the UK, are causing a problem because of their ability to reproduce up to four times the rate of other fish and take over their habitat.
Previously the only way to get rid of the invasive fish to protect the native special was to poison them, but now the Environment Agency is experimenting with a more natural and humane solution.
Early this year, eight large perch were introduced into the Wirral pool to see if they would feed on the smaller Topmouth Gudgeon.
Environment Agency fisheries technical officer Paul Blake said: "We are the first organisation in the country to try out this biological method of getting rid of Topmouth Gudgeon.
"We?ve checked the lake recently and we?re pretty sure that the perch are having an impact on the numbers of Topmouth Gudgeon in the pool.
"What?s even better news is that the perch have also spawned so there will be more perch to prey on the invasive fish in future years."
Topmouth Gudgeon are among the most damaging species to invade western Europe and can devastate the ecology of rivers and lakes.
Not only do they breed quickly, but they eat the eggs of other fish and are highly tolerant of environmental conditions. They were probably introduced into the wild through the ornamental fish trade.
