In the last decades we have witnessed the introduction of several species of exotic fish in the Portuguese rivers. These have an unpredictable effect and it is over time that the ultimate consequences of their presence at the level of habitat and aquatic life are known. In general, these species exert direct predation on eggs, juveniles and adults of other fish, still competing for food, oxygen and shelter. In the watercourses of southern Portugal, this pressure is particularly evident during summer, when streams are reduced to small catchments where aquatic biodiversity is concentrated.
As a threat to the conservation of native species, including saramugo, the LIFE Saramugo Project team has been doing systematic removals of exotic fish in the Vascão river (since 2015) during the hottest months of the year, continuing the work already done by the ICNF since 2005.
This year, with the support of 21 volunteers, a total of 6,207 specimens of exotic species were removed, of which 50% were largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and another 50% pumpkin seed (Lepomis gibbosus). The chameleon cyclid (Australoheros facetus), once quite captured, occurred this year in residual number (3 copies).
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In the three years of removals, a total of 18,988 specimens of exotic fish species were captured. In this way, it was contributed to minimize the pressure that these species exert on native species during summer (summer/fall). These actions will have contributed to the survival of saramugo and many other native fish such as "Boga do Guadiana" (Pseudochondrostoma willkommii) or "bordalo" (Squalius alburnoides).
LIFE Saramugo team is grateful to all the volunteers who have dedicated part of their summer to the conservation of saramugo, a species "Critically Endangered", which contributed greatly to achieving the results.
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Be sure to read the testimony of the volunteer Guillermo Sobrino who accompanied us this summer, here.
