Fishing & Biodiversity. A new fishing event is being held on Saturday, May 16, at Château Gaillard. What are the anglers targeting? The cherax, an invasive species. This new fishing event is an opportunity to support biodiversity. Grab your landing nets!
Fishing Trip
The Martinique Fishing Federation is organizing a fishing event on Saturday, May 16. What’s on the agenda? Trying to catch a species considered invasive in Martinique. «Come catch the cherax—this invasive crayfish that’s colonizing our ponds and pools—and play a part in preserving our local species for an afternoon,» say the organizers.
The event is open from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., allowing participants to arrive at any time during that period. You don’t need to be an expert to participate, and there’s no need to register. Children are also welcome, as long as they are supervised by their parents. Participation is free, and you’ll be able to fish in the ponds and lakes on the Château Gaillard estate.
Promoting Biodiversity
The goal of this fishing trip is to catch cherax (Cherax quadricarinatus), «[…] an invasive alien species (IAS) that threatens our freshwater ecosystems. By participating, you’re making a real difference in protecting Martinique’s biodiversity,» explain officials from the Martinique Fishing Federation in a social media post.
The cherax is known for its rapid reproduction rate, as well as its strong ability to adapt to its environment. When spotted in the wild, it’s important to try to capture it and not release it back into the wild. It’s small actions like these that help control the populations of invasive species.
Thus, taking part in a fishing trip is a way to help protect the environment, an opportunity to learn more about Martinique’s aquatic ecosystems, and perhaps to help reduce the populations of cherax, which are harmful to biodiversity.
SD
