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Anglers’ records as a tool for assessing changes in fish populations
Author(s) -
Penczak T.,
Sierakowska K.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of applied ichthyology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.392
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1439-0426
pISSN - 0175-8659
DOI - 10.1046/j.1439-0426.2003.00472.x
Subject(s) - barbel , leuciscus , overfishing , biology , fishery , barbus , fish <actinopterygii> , ecology , cyprinidae
Summary Published anglers’ records from Polish rivers between 1966–1991 were used to show shifts in body weight of two obligatory riverine species: barbel [ Barbus barbus (L.)], and chub [ Leuciscus cephalus (L.)]. The body weight of barbel significantly decreased while that of chub did not. In 1966–89, the quality of inland waters continuously decreased, a result mainly from nutrient element input (domestic and agricultural). Hence, we consider two factors which were mainly responsible for reduction in fish size: overfishing and, perhaps, eutrophication.