Some like it fishless: the reasons and potential for eradicating alien fish from European mountain lakes

Abstract

Stocking game fish into originally fishless mountain systems is a major threat for high-altitude lakes and the inhabiting native species. The adoption of stocking and fishing bans and the implementation of eradication actions have proven to be effective in stopping this biological invasion. However, there is still little appetite for such measures/actions in fishery management in European mountains and protected areas probably because of their possible, negative, socio-economic implications. Here, we briefly present; i) the ecological costs of this general inaction and ii) the reasons for embracing a conservation-minded approach to the management of fish resources in mountain areas, adopting appropriate measures and actions (i.e. fish eradications).