Work is now underway! The company Losab—a land and marine consulting firm—has begun cutting approximately seven hectares of common reed in a cove in the southeastern part of the Svensksundsviken Nature Reserve.
The measure aims, on the one hand, to widen the so-called “blue fringes”—which are the outer parts of the coastal meadows—and, on the other hand, to open up uniform reed beds.
Hopefully, these measures will improve conditions for pike spawning and fry rearing, while also benefiting nesting and resting wading birds in their foraging areas. Some reed beds will be left intact to create sheltered habitats for birds and longer riparian zones. Previous boat fishing this fall indicated a good abundance of large pike, but no small ones—which may suggest poor reproduction in the bay.
Hopefully, these measures will improve conditions for pike spawning and the growth of fry, while also benefiting nesting and resting wading birds in their foraging areas
Why is the pike so important?
The pike plays a key role in the ecosystems of shallow bays. Large pike keep the number of small fish down; fewer small fish mean more small invertebrates and less growth of filamentous algae on underwater plants. This, in turn, leads to clearer water.
