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Increased population density of pike Esox lucius – a result of selective harvest of large individuals
Author(s) -
Sharma C. M.,
Borgstrøm R.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
ecology of freshwater fish
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.667
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1600-0633
pISSN - 0906-6691
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0633.2008.00310.x
Subject(s) - pike , esox , population , fishery , biology , demography , fish <actinopterygii> , sociology
– The effect of selective harvest of large pike on number of middle‐sized pike was tested in a small, eutrophic lake in SE Norway. The pike population was estimated using a mark–recapture method in two different periods: before (1980–1983) and during the manipulation of the pike population (2004–2006). After an extensive size selective harvest of large pike (≥65 cm) in 2004, the number of pike in length‐class 45–65 cm, mainly 3+ pike, increased significantly from 2004 to 2005. The number in this length‐class was even higher in 2006. Since 2+ pike was part of the diet of large pike, the increase in number of 3+ pike in 2005 and 2006 is probably due to reduced consumption of 2+ pike, following the substantial selective removal of large pike in 2004 and 2005. To maintain a high annual survival of young pike, a selective exploitation of large pike has to be carried out annually.