Controlling European perch (Perca fluviatilis):: lessons from an experimental removal

Over a 2-year period, we progressively removed perch from three ponds using a combination of gill and fyke nets and small minnow traps. Resulting changes in the fish community were compared with three control ponds. Large adult perch dominated communities in the control ponds, suggesting cannibalism was regulating these populations. In two. of the removal ponds, perch removal was largely successful, and a marked increase in the abundance of common bullies occurred. In the third removal pond high juvenile perch recruitment occurred, presumably because of the absence of cannibalistic adult fish. Physical removal appears to be an option for perch control in relatively small lentic habitats and where desirable non-target fish species are present. It is recommended that removals be conducted in autumn to reduce the risk of high juvenile recruitment.