Catfish

Catfish

 (Silurus glanis)

 

It is a freshwater fish of the family of Siluridae, order Siluriformes, which since its introduction in 1974 Mequinenza reservoir-from their habitat in large rivers of Central Europe, has spread to other parts Ebro basin, along the Ebro River and its tributaries, especially the river Segre. It has also been the subject of illegal introductions carried out by individuals in other rivers, reservoirs and lakes of Spain. The final report of their presence known undesired made in October 2009 the Ministry of Environment of the Generalitat Valenciana and refers to the presence of these fish in the reservoir of Forata (Hoya de Buñol).It is a benthic fish, equipped with big beards.

 It ichthyophagous, but does not reject other vertebrates.

PLAY

Spawn from May to July. The male digs a shallow nest in areas with dense vegetation, and the female lays thousands of eggs about 3 mm in diameter. Sets 20000 to 25000 per kilo of weight. After 3 to 10 days of incubation, during which the nest is guarded by the male, the eggs hatch into tiny larvae that looks like a tadpole. These fingerlings grow quickly, especially if temperatures are high and have enough food. They can reach 35 cm in length after a year and about 50 cm at two years, and reach sexual maturity when they weigh from 1 to 2 kg, which usually get three or four years (nine in climates colder). A catfish of about 25 years weighs about 65 kg.

 

FOOD

It feeds on all types of prey and carrion. In the juvenile phase of the fund eats small invertebrates and adult eats mostly fish as carp, catfish, pike especially bleak in order any fish that is in your area including eating up between them, but also other animals such as ducks, rodents, snakes, frogs, crabs ..., to which suction traps with his big mouth.

 As expected in a turbid water fish active in the dark, does not detect prey by sight, but does so mainly through other senses. Have electroreceptors in barbels, which are also touch-function, jaw and lateral-line organ-sensitive to vibrations, and chemoreceptors (taste) in sensory whiskers, mouth and other parts of body. It also has a good nose and a fine ear can detect it very well produced sounds above water. Danube fishermen attract him banging on the water surface with a sort of stick called clonk and is also attracted by the low-frequency sound waves. Remains very active in winter, hiding in the background, and eats very little.

 The catfish is the largest fish of European waters and one of the most voluminous epicontientales water, can be very large on favorable terms, up to 500 cm and 300 kg.

THE INTRODUCTION IN SPAIN Catfish
 
   
  
Suddenly since late 1970, early 1980, he began to fish in the river Ebro as it passes through the town of Mequinenza, at the confluence of the rivers Segre and Cinca, some strange fish, fish-like cat, but just appear. We're talking about catfish.
The catfish was introduced in Spain in the spring of 1974.
Someone had taken at your own risk this decision. Were transported from Germany, from the River Danube, 32 juveniles, in a wooden container. They crossed the border without any problem, it is argued that these fish were to be used as live bait fishing for pike.

The officer who reviewed the issue do not see anything abnormal and catfish cross the border by La Junquera not be cleared and of course without paying taxes.
A few hours after they are released in full on the river Ebro, near the town of Mequinenza.

Nobody could suspect or think what he was making. That forms a kind introduced in our waters illegally change the lives of several people and as Mequinenza would become the cradle of catfish in Europe, thus helping to boost tourism in the area.
Person or persons were responsible for its introduction is the least important is.
The fact is attributed to Mr. Roland Lorkowski, born in Cologne, Germany in 1953. PhD in biology and specialize in ecosystems and freshwater fish.

According to their comments (magazine "Hunting and fishing" n º 548), the dam of Ribarroja suffered a strong ecological imbalance that was in almost total loss of predatory fish, particularly pike and black bass (alien species). In those years pescatas of these species were spectacular, but apparently were destined to disappear or diminish in an important way.
Since the creation of reservoir Ribarroja and five years later, there was a boom with the pike because of the abundant food available to him. According LORKOWSKI, pike had a few hours. (October 2001 hardly any).
The water level was suffering from severe fluctuations, variations in spring jeopardize and destroy the eggs of this species.

The catfish is a fish that grows extremely fast if you have the conditions to his favor, and in this reservoir, by the configuration of the area, bottom depth and food, as its development is far superior to the rest of Europe.
The catfish has adapted perfectly, carp population has been controlled and the growth rate is well above the rest of Europe.
Was it really so?
Do we have the catfish in Spain because someone decided for themselves that they had to control the population of fish species in the reservoir Ribarroja?
What do the fishing of certain fish species that have been severely reduced their pescatas?
What do black bass fishermen, who have also been severely reduced their pescatas?
"This is because of the introduction of catfish? o It has also helped the introduction of the pike?.
If the owner of the dam before the tent was now so is the catfish and pike.
Did anyone think to introduce crocodiles to stop the over population of catfish?
In short and in all honesty, we are in the XXI century and we have a fishing paradise both Ribarroja reservoir, as in the reservoir Mequinenza.
Many fishermen are attracted to this new species and see how it feels to catch a monster that can reach 100 kilos in weight, coming from many points of the Spanish territory and not only that but also from many parts of geography Europe, Great Britain. Netherlands, Germany, Italy, France, etc ...
This results in an influx of tourism to the area and the economic consequences that this implies.
What is the difference between entering a non-native species that brings wealth and uncontrolled building was made in the 60s in the Spanish Mediterranean coast?.
Spain became known through its tourist industry and we continue to sell.

What's wrong with that?