In 2013 researchers of the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO) performed three fish survey campaigns in the Zeeschelde estuary. Fish assemblages were surveyed with anchor netting in Doel, Antwerpen, Hingene and Branst during spring, summer and autumn. In total 42 species were caught. The highest number of species was caught in spring. In the Zeeschelde the mesohaline zone contains the highest number of species. Again smelt was the most abundantly caught species. The presence of larvae, juveniles and adults allows us to conclude that the estuary provides spawning habitat and act as a nursery for this species. Adult twaite shad was caught again. However, although the presence of eggs was established in spring, no larvae were caught in summer or autumn. Apparently recruitment was not successful this year. During the autumn campaign juvenile anchovy, herring and seabass were caught indicating that marine species use the estuary as a nursery habitat. Presence of glass eel confirms observations that this year was a good year for glass eel migration into our estuaries. The capture of houting is at least remarkable as this species is considered extirpated in the Zeeschelde. Shrimps and prawns are, even far upstream, abundant in the Zeeschelde. |
