The pros and cons of the invasive freshwater apex predator, European catfish Silurus glanis, and powerful angling technique for its population control

0505614 - BC 2020 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Vejřík, Lukáš - Vejříková, Ivana - Kočvara, Luboš - Blabolil, Petr - Peterka, Jiří - Sajdlová, Zuzana - Jůza, Tomáš - Šmejkal, Marek - Kolařik, Tomáš - Bartoň, Daniel - Kubečka, Jan - Čech, Martin
The pros and cons of the invasive freshwater apex predator, European catfish Silurus glanis, and powerful angling technique for its population control.
Journal of Environmental Management. Roč. 241, JUL (2019), s. 374-382. ISSN 0301-4797. E-ISSN 1095-8630
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT(CZ) LM2015075; GA MŠMT(CZ) EF16_013/0001782; GA MŠMT(CZ) EF16_025/0007417; GA MZe(CZ) QK1920011
EU Projects: European Commission(XE) 677039 - ClimeFish
Institutional support: RVO:60077344
Keywords : apex consumer * biomanipulation * economic impact * freshwater ecosystem
OECD category: Ecology
Impact factor: 5.647, year: 2019
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479719304633?via%3Dihub

Catfish have spread across Europe and several countries out of this region within the last decades. Basic knowledge of this apex predator has revealed concerns of invasive behaviour and questions regarding its utilization as a biomanipulation species. However, a method enabling its regulation to a required level has not yet been developed. We simulated the impact of angling on the catfish population by method of hook-lines in two post-mining lakes with a monitored population consisting of tagged individuals and in two reservoirs as reference sites. Further, the efficiency of hook-lines as a reducing device was examined and the economic aspects were determined. Catfish population in localities where the species is unwanted or invasive may be efficiently reduced to a harmless level by hook-lines and angling (depending on the approach of anglers). The most efficient time of the year seems to be spring to early summer with catch efficiency of 5.4 individuals per 10 baits in one day. The catch efficiency markedly decreased during the second part of the year and did not exceed 2.8 individuals per 10 baits in one day. Mean size of catfish had negative impact whereas catfish biomass had positive impact on the catch efficiency. Trophic status and number of catfish in the locality had no impact on the catch efficiency. According to model, 11-18 bait-days per 1 ha per season is efficient to decrease catfish population to 10% of the original size. Both angling and hook-lines are very simple, they are financially and time bearable mechanisms of catfish regulation in any condition. However, catfish play an important role as a biomanipulative species in many localities. In this case where catfish is beneficial, angling presents a real threat of population collapse and loss of the biomanipulative effect.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0300493