Eradicating the invasive topmouth gudgeon, Pseudorasbora parva, from a recreational fishery in northern England

Abstract  An established population of the invasive topmouth gudgeon, Pseudorasbora parva (Temminck & Schlegel), was discovered in a recreational fishery in Northwest England in 2002. As the lake was seasonally connected to a river catchment, providing potential for dispersal, a containment and eradication programme was initiated. Containment involved screening of outfalls and preventing fish movements off site. Eradication involved the fishery being treated twice with a rotenone-based piscicide, in March and April 2005. The mean P. parva density prior to rotenone application was 6.1 m⁻²; following the application, none were recorded. Non-target species in the fishery were removed prior to the application; following rotenone degradation, they were re-introduced and subsequently spawned, with recording of young-of-the-year. This contrasts with 2004 when only young-of-the-year of P. parva were recorded. As the eradication appeared to be successful, the method is considered suitable for use on other populations posing a similar threat of dispersal of the species into rivers and on other invasive fish populations in undesirable locations.