The spread of Wels catfish in Portuguese reservoirs. The point of view of fishermen and anglers (EN)

This video is produced under LIFE PREDATOR project. It tells the impact and future perspectives for the Portuguese reservoirs, resulting from the expansion of the Wels catfish, through the testimonies of professional fishermen and of anglers. LIFE PREDATOR project (LIFE21-NAT-IT-PREDATOR | n. 101074458) started in October 2022. Funded by European Union under LIFE program, this project aims to contain as much as possible and counteract the phenomenon of the spread of Silurus glanis, wels catfish, in lakes of Southern Europe, where it is an Invasive Alien Species. The area of intervention includes ITALY and PORTUGAL. LIFE PREDATOR is directed by the CNR-IRSA at Pallanza (Italy) and implemented by a large partnership composed of: GRAIA srl Italian enterprise, Ente di gestione delle Aree protette delle Alpi Cozie, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa (Portugal), Biologické centrum AV ČR (Czech Republic) and Città Metropolitana di Torino. LIFE PREDATOR aims to combat the spread and further introduction of wels catfish, Silurus glanis, in the lakes of southern Europe, where it is a Invasive Alien Species, contributing to the application of the EU IAS Regulation n. 1143/2014. An early detection method based on environmental DNA is tested and developed in 50 lakes (23 in Italy, 25 in Portugal and 2 in the Czech Republic, the latter as control environment, where the species is native and welcome) and supported from citizen science. In 10 lakes where the species is widespread and abundant, different capture methodologies are tested to find the most selective and effective one, which will then be applied to reduce the biomass of wels catfish of: 90 % in five small Natura 2000 lakes; 10 % in large lakes and reservoirs, 50 % in small reservoirs. All these activities will involve professional fishermen and anglers. To read more: www.lifepredator.eu