More on pike conservation, US style

More interesting thoughts on pike conservation through protecting and enhancing their spawning areas comes from the Minesota Department of Natural Resources, in the US.

"Many northern pike spawning areas have been lost to drainage, dredging and shoreline development," an article on its website headed Pike Management says.

"They are destroyed by the farmer who drains a seasonally flooded wetland adjoining a stream or lake, and by the cabin owner who kills the cattails along the shore of a shallow bay.

"These areas must be protected through shore land regulations that prevent draining, filling and other destruction of shoreline wetlands. Also important are regulations that prevent wholesale removal of the shallow-water aquatic weeds that provide cover to young northern pike and their prey."

Notwithstanding the ongoing affects of climate change on our lowland rivers and the way they'renow managed to minimise flood risk, how many waters is the above true of..?

But the Minesota DNR is streets ahead of the Environment Agency when it comes to the solution: "Where northern pike spawning areas are lacking, a fish manager can create habitat by building a low dam to flood low-lying land near a lake.

The area fills with spring runoff, the northern pike spawn and the fry grow to fingerlings.

They then escape or, if there is a barrier between the lake and spawning area, are released to the main body of water."

To read the full article, click here.