H&C

16
Mar
2010

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Predatory pike to leave Cornish home

The once tranquil waters of Par Duck Pond near St Blazey have been disturbed by hungry pike that are chomping their way through the local fish population, but not for much longer, H&C has learned.

The pike are causing alarm to local anglers who have asked the Environment Agency to remove them from the site - a popular wildlife area and public open space owned and managed by Cornwall Council.

"There are very few pike waters in Cornwall and certainly none at Par duck pond until a couple of months ago. We believe they have been introduced and their numbers are now getting out of hand," said Robert Hurrell for the Environment Agency.

Anglers are catching roach, rudd, tench and other fish only to have them torn off the end of their line by hungry pike as they are reeling them in. Fishermen have reported seeing pike ranging in size from 2lb to around 15lb.

The pond is fast gaining a reputation as a place to fish for pike and instead of anglers turning up at the water’s edge with maggots and bread for bait, people have been seen fishing for pike with special lures.

In some lakes and ponds, pike supplement their diet with the occasional duckling or water vole and will even eat other pike. Equipped with razor-sharp teeth and a remarkable turn of speed, these stream-lined predators are highly efficient killers.

Agency fisheries officers believe the pike population at Par duck pond could further increase and spread to other waters unless steps are taken to remove them. The Tywardreath Stream, a tributary of the River Par, flows through the middle of the pond providing the newcomers with the means to populate other sites in Cornwall.

"These fish are not native to Cornwall and have been illegally introduced. The movement of coarse fish is strictly controlled under Section 30 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 to prevent the spread of harmful fish diseases and introduction of potentially damaging alien fish species," said Robert Hurrell.

Today Environment Agency fisheries officers will visit Par duck pond and remove the pike using electro fishing equipment. The pond will be divided into compartments with nets and the pike captured and removed. Checks will be carried out on a sample of the fish to discover whether they are carrying any harmful diseases or parasites. If given a clean bill of health they will be moved to a suitable new location.