Ban on putting catfish back into the water
According to the prefectural decree, the release of live catfish into the water is now prohibited on the Garonne and its tributaries (including the Dropt), the Dordogne and its tributaries (including the Isle and the Dronne) and the Leyre and its tributaries.
The prefecture justifies this decision by “the vulnerability of migratory fish species in the department” and emphasizes that “scientific studies carried out in the Garonne-Dordogne basin […] have shown that the impact of the species on migratory fish is significant.
“This measure is part of the context of managing catfish populations, the impact of which on certain migratory species is documented in the Garonne-Dordogne basin,” also explains the Fishing Federation.
Thus, any catfish caught must now “be kept or destroyed in these sectors”: “If you cannot take the caught fish home, we recommend that you put it back in the water dead,” specifies the Federation.
Lure fishing authorized all year round on 15 bodies of water
Another new feature for Gironde fishermen: lure fishing is now authorized all year round on around fifteen bodies of water, namely: the large Etang de la Blanche in Ambarès-et-Lagrave, the small Etang de la Blanche in Ambarès-et-Lagrave, the Etang du Moutchic in Ambès, the Etang d’Arboudeau in Parempuyre, the Lac de Bègles plage, the Etangs de la Briqueterie (the 2 open to fishing) in Canéjan, the large Magdeleine lake in Gujan-Mestras, the Barsac ponds (all 3), the Taste lake in Captieux, the Caumont pond, the Laubesc lake and the Dagueys lake.