And BIODIVERSITY Covering the Scales Or the Skin; Dangerous and Not Allowed)

How to protect native fish and the environment Learn to know fish, their habits Do not release predatory non- and their importance in the native fish, such as the Wels aquatic ecosystem. Catfish (Silurus glanis), back into the water, and dispose of the When you go fishing, you need carcasses according to regulations. to follow the legal rules: If you have trouble doing this regarding protected fish, abide in the Park area, you can use by the prescribed minimum the carcass removal service. measurements and the periods For information, please contact of prohibition specified to protect Vigilanza Parco del Mincio (0376 reproduction. 391550 during office hours, 348 If you are not going to eat the fish 3502574 on Saturdays and Sunday (warning: consumption of fish mornings). in Mantua’s Lago Inferiore and Please respect the river banks, Lago di Mezzo is now allowed), do not cut the vegetation, do not release it in the river, with the drop rubbish on the ground or in exception of the non-native the water. species considered harmful by the Lombardy Region, such as the Please respect and do not Wels Catfish, Tilapia, and Spotted obstruct river bank areas Channel Catfish. reserved for pedestrians and cyclists. THE RIVER MINCIO When you catch a fish, grab it gently, with wet hands in order not Please respect the navigation to remove the protective mucus areas (break line fishing is and BIODIVERSITY covering the scales or the skin; dangerous and not allowed). The native fish fauna of the Mincio River must be known and protected after unhooking it, carefully place The only shelter allowed while it in water and re-oxygenate it by The river running through Parco del This natural variety is particularly well- fishing is an umbrella; windbreaks moving it back and forth, so that Mincio includes an outstandingly preserved in the “Valli del Mincio” (Mincio or tents are not allowed. the water entering into its mouth beautiful network of aquatic systems of Valleys) nature reserve. Fish, among reaches the gills (the breathing great natural importance. The native the oldest living organisms, are very organ of fish). fish of the Mincio River, the local sensitive to pollution and changes in the species that have been here since time environment. The introduction by man immemorial, are essential elements in of exotic (or non-native) fish species can How, where and when to fish the life cycle of the river environment also negatively affect the natural balance All relevant information can be found in the Province of Mantua “Regulations”, and symbols of biodiversity. of the aquatic ecosystem. which can be found at www.provincia.mantova.it and www.fipsasmantova.it Text: : Parco del Mincio - Soc. Coop. Alkémica Graphics layout: Civicamente srl PARCO REGIONALE DEL MINCIO – MANTOVA – www.parcodelmincio.it Native species: let’s protect them TENCH Some native species are included in the European Tinca tinca, family Cyprinidae protected lists, while others that are not are nevertheless declining. Here we introduce you to A Cyprinidae that reaches a length of 40-50 cm. six native species. It prefers the muddy riverbeds with abundant vegetation found in still or slow-moving waters; it TELESTES MUTICELLUS feeds on aquatic plants, larvae and molluscs. Leuciscus souffia muticellus, family Cyprinidae EUROPEAN PERCH Small Cyprinidae (10-15 cm), omnivore and of gregarious habits, prefers oxygenated and flowing Perca fluviatilis, family Percidae waters. Magnificent predator with characteristic vertical Foto: Massimiliano Marcelli / Italy Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 dark stripes, medium-sized (up to 40-50 cm), it feeds mostly on fish. ITALIAN BARBEL Barbus plebejus, family Cyprinidae NORTHERN PIKE Long and slender Cyprinidae with characteristic Esox lucius, family Esocidae barbels on the side of the mouth (50-70 cm), found The ultimate native predator, it can reach a length typically in rough and clear waters, it feeds on of 130 cm and a weight of over 20 kg. It feeds on larvae and small riverbed organisms. fish, amphibians, and occasionally small birds, and is an excellent biological indicator of the quality of an EUROPEAN EEL aquatic ecosystem. Anguilla anguilla, family Anguillidae Mincio Park and Fipsas (Italian Federation of It is registered in the IUCN Red List as “Critically Sport Fishing and Underwater Activities) have Endangered”, which is the stage immediately restocked the Mincio Valleys nature reserve with preceding extinction. It feeds on small prey and Northern Pike and European Perch. hunts mainly at night or in murky waters. Modification of natural habitats bream, Ruffe, Asp, Blicca bjoerkna, Crucian carp, Common roach, Zander, and impact of non-native species Pumpkinseed, Largemouth bass, Catfish, Pseudorasbora, European bitterling, Wels Catfish, and Tilapia. Pollution, eutrophication of waters, and artificialization process have affected fish life in many parts of the world. Lost - or nearly lost - treasures As elsewhere, the introduction of exotic fish - capable of adapting and competing Unfortunately, the populations of numerous native species of the Mincio River are with native species to the point of replacing them - is continuously threatening so depleted that they seem to survive only in the memories of elderly fishermen. the native fish community and the biodiversity itself of the Mincio River. The Among them are the Spined Loach, Pigo, Padanian Goby, South European non-native species, with various impact on the local fish fauna, include: Common Nase, Nase and common Sturgeon are among them..

Load more