Bruno Garcia of the Charente-Maritime fishing federation answers questions from listeners on France Bleu la Rochelle, today A listener who wished to remain anonymous criticizes the Federation for not putting in place enough measures to protect pike and Bruno asks you for an explanation of this indifference.
Bruno Garcia: There are “smile” questions and “grumpy” questions. There obviously we are not in the spirit of smiling. I always find it a shame not to be known. Despite points of view that may be opposed, we are able to exchange without breaking the bun. Pike is a huge problem. Quite simply because it is a very demanding species for its biology in general but especially for its reproduction. In all honesty I do not see what more can be done for this species for which we are very attentive.
If I remember correctly, there are already protective measures for pike?
Fishermen are already making huge efforts for this fish. The regulations have been tightened up enormously for a long time now. Already the regulation size, a pike of less than 60 cm cannot be kept.
Why this regulation size?
A male is sexually mature from 40 cm but this is not the case for the female it will take a little longer and it is scientifically considered that at 60 cm a female has reproduced at least once. Then and since 2017 there is a quota on this species: no more than 2 pike per day and per fisherman. We must not, either, forget all these sectors where there is an obligation to release them.
It is true that there is a particular attention for this fish! The question we are entitled to ask ourselves: why him rather than another?
The pike is an index species which means that the presence of the pike is indicative of a healthy environment and I repeat it is in great difficulty. Its breeding area must meet many criteria, water whose temperature must be between 7 and 10 degrees, the submersion of a herbaceous area such as a meadow for 40 to 45 days for the fry to be autonomous. Today, given the culture of wetlands, these requirements are rarely grouped together.
And these protective measures are not enough to energize the species?
I had not finished the tour of all that is now in place to conserve the species. A Federal fish farm intended primarily for the breeding of pike, a dozen artificial spawning grounds have also been created in the department. Sectors where we have implemented structures to retain water longer and allow spawning to be completed. And experimentally we have imposed a different regulatory size on the entire Charente river. All pike over 80cm must be released.
A biological reason I suppose?
A scientific study shows that broodstock over 80 cm can adapt their reproduction temporally and geographically according to the conditions and ensure more robust offspring with faster growth. Which is a huge advantage when you know that it is difficult for them to bring together all the elements favorable to their reproduction at a specific time.
In summary let’s protect the old rather than the young
And that suits me!