🐟 Freshwater fishes are the lifeblood of Africa’s rivers, lakes & wetlands—vital for food, culture & ecosystems. But they’re vanishing fast.

A new @wwfafrica.bsky.social report shows dazzling biodiversity under threat. 👉 africa.panda.org/our_work/pub...

#FreshwaterFishes #Africa

Digging through old #coregonids literature in the library is always exciting ! Fascinating to see the extant of work done on these fishes over the years.

#whitefish #oldliterature #freshwaterfishes

These are almost the only Minnows I saw, running with a shoal of Bleak.
The few Rudd were the biggest fish apart from Pike. Roach with their orangey eye were the most abundant fish in the Cut-Off Channel at Wretton.
#freshwaterfishes #Norfolk #fishsky #teamfish #fish #freshwaterfish 14/25

There were many incredible clouds of #fish fry in the shallower water along the vegetated edges of the Cut-Off Channel at Wretton on the last day of May, including, I guess, Roach (top 2), Bleak (slim, silvery, pale eye) & Perch (stripey, humpy backed). #freshwaterfishes #teamfish #fishsky 9/21

Good population of Gudgeon in the River Wensum upstream of Ringland, quite a few Perch & a couple of Pike.
Have never seen Perfoliate Pondweed more dominant.

#Gudgeon #Perch #Pike #Freshwaterashtag/FreshwaterFish" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#FreshwaterFishag/FreshwaterFishes" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#FreshwaterFishes #FreshwaterFish #Freshwater #Chalkstreamshtag/Chalkstreams" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#Chalkstreams #Chalkstream #Broadland #Norfolk
4/6

Huge shoals of Roach, taking minutes to pass, roaming around Derwent Water, behaving like I've only seen fish do in the sea. Many sadly diseased though.
Saw several groups hanging vertically. Why?
#freshwaterfishag/freshwaterfishes" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#freshwaterfishes #freshwaterfish #DerwentWater #lakedistrict @EnvAgencyNW

2/4

Took husband to meet the Brook Lampreys in the Cut-off Channel, but they stood us up. (Even though temperature same (10.2 °C) as on Tuesday when they were spawning).
Obliging Stone Loach instead.
#MySwim #FreshwaterFishes #Chalkstreams #ForgottenFishes #Lakenheath #Suffolk 1/3

The 850 m of the River Lark downstream from Judes Ferry, West Row is dominated by Roach, Dace & Minnows. At the top end these fine Perch preside. Saw only 1 small Pike, too fast for my camera. #MySwim #Chalkstreams #WestSuffolk #Freshwaterfishes #RiverLark #Mildenhall 1/10

Swarms of Three-spined Sticklebacks in the Cut-off Channel.
Surprised a few Mallard - while 3 Kingfishers bickered in the willows.
Spring sun warm on my back casting shadow of snorkel on river bed.
#FreshwaterFishes #Chalkstreams #ForgottenFishes #Lakenheath #WestSuffolk
2/3

One of the Minnows (?) in Tuddenham Mill Stream's gin clear water seemed completely silver - never seen one looking like that before.

#minnows #freshwaterfishes #Chalkstreams #Tuddenham #WestSuffolk #Brecks #Fens

3/3

That moment of high anticipation before you launch into #chalkstreams. In #Tuddenham Mill Stream had quality time with a Brown Trout parr. Met 2 #BrookLamprey, 1 upstream of this 1 nest-building
#BrownTrout #WestSuffolk #freshwaterfishes @PondRiverStream #EarthHour #ForNature
3/3

Nothing better to wash away stresses of a working week than snorkelling #chalkstreams. Sadly the reward for this Brook Lamprey's heavy nest building labours, once it's found a mate & spawned, is death.
Minnows also ready to breed.
#MySwim #Britnatureguide #FreshwaterFishes 1/3

In Tuddenham Mill Stream on Monday, a lovely pool of Dace.

A 30 cm trout whizzed by.

#MySwim #Dace #Tuddenham #WestSuffolk #freshwaterfishes @Britnatureguide @BuryLung @AquiferChalk @N_Rivers_Trust @theriverstrust @PondRiverStream @TheBrecksLP @OSBrecks @OuseEcologyEA

1/6

On a 1km hurtle down River Lark, was swooshed too fast to see much underwater, tho' plenty Minnows & some Sticklebacks. Over one of few bits of gravel, these Minnows in full breeding raiment surfed one of fastest bits of current. Why do they do that?
#MySwim #Freshwaterfishes 1/2

Surprised how much algae & how few fish we saw in the #RiverLark from Farthing Bridge, Icklingham, upstream for 1 km. This Brook Lamprey was heading upstream. Current still quite strong.
#Brooklampreys #Chalkstreams #Freshwaterfishes #freshwaterfish @Feargal_Sharkey
5/6

Besides the redd of 3 Brook Lampreys, passed 2 separate Brook Lampreys heading up Cavenham Mill Stream. Here's a view down the single nostril on top of 1 lamprey's head - like a spout.
Lots of Minnows & quite few a Three-spined Sticklebacks. #Chalkstreams #Freshwaterfishes
3/6

Also in Cavenham Mill Stream a redd of 3 Brook Lampreys - looked like an exhausted female being bothered by two males.

#brooklampreys #Chalkstreams #chalkstream #Freshwaterfishes #freshwaterfish #WestSuffolk

2/6

The best Easter gift ever - my first BULLHEAD! In the delightful lower reaches of Cavenham Mill Stream. Quite confiding - with a prehistoric vibe.

#MySwim #bullheads #RiverLark #Chalkstreamshtag/Chalkstreams" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#Chalkstreams #Chalkstream #Freshwaterfishes #freshwaterfish #WestSuffolk #Brecks #Breckland

1/6

High density of Roach in the River Lark at Mildenhall (max fish in one pic is 11) where people feed the waterfowl - but many diseased fish (several pike are also damaged). Fin rot?
#RiverLark #freshwaterfishag/freshwaterfishes" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#freshwaterfishes #roach #freshwaterfish #fishdisease
2/3

The #RiverLark at Mildenhall packed with Pike & Perch. Water only 7.4°C - Perch sluggish, sitting on bottom. Fascinating how some Pike are stripey & some spotty. Several c1m & a little jack pike. One Chub at least 30 cm.

#MySwim #freshwaterfishes #Mildenhall #WestSuffolk

1/3

A few of the minnows in Tuddenham Mill Stream had strange black marks eg on their face or back. Not sure if this is malignant or just natural variation?

#WestSuffolk #Freshwaterfishes #freshwaterfish #chalkstreamshtag/chalkstreams" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#chalkstreams #chalkstream #minnow #minnows #TwitterNatureCommunity

2/2

In Tuddenham Mill Stream some lovely pools of Chub among the Minnows, the male Minnows especially splendid in their breeding finery.

#MySwim #WestSuffolk #Freshwaterfishes #freshwaterfish #TwitterNatureCommunity #chalkstreamshtag/chalkstreams" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#chalkstreams #chalkstream @Britnatureguide #minnows

1/2

In the Kennett-Lee Brook downstream of Freckenham plenty of splendid minnows and several species of Caddis Fly larvae.

#freshwaterfish #freshwaterfishes #Chalkstreamshtag/Chalkstreams" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#Chalkstreams #Chalkstream #Freckenham #WestSuffolk #Isleham #Cambridgeshire #fens
4/4

And if you can't see the Bullhead guarding the watches like a dragon in 1/4 above, here's pics of one - gorgeous fish!
Sadly there was also a dead one. Why?
#bullhead #millersthumb #freshwaterfish #freshwaterfishes #Chalkstreamshtag/Chalkstreams" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#Chalkstreams #Chalkstream #Freckenham #WestSuffolk #fens
3/4

Also lots horse bones - police say travellers dump their dead ponies in the rivers.
In case you can't spot stone loach above, here's a portrait. Also some large Gudgeon & a tiny Jack Pike.
#stoneloach #freshwaterfishes #Chalkstreamshtag/Chalkstreams" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#Chalkstreams #Chalkstream #Freckenham #WestSuffolk
2/4