Freshwater
Fish in Shetland
There are
very few freshwater fish species in Shetland, primarily as a result of the
lack of suitably-sized water bodies (there are only four lochs with a
surface area greater than 1km2), the lack of any suitable
rivers (a small number of Shetland's burns do technically qualify as
rivers - just) and the impoverished nature of these waterbodies. Only
seven species are currently definitely established in Shetland, all of
which have a salinity tolerance or have a marine phase. The following is a
summary of these species and also includes others that have been recorded
but may now be absent.
Brown and
Sea Trout
Salmo trutta
This
species is apparently much less common than former years but is still
relatively widespread in the larger waterbodies. There has been a great
deal of stocking in several lochs with non-indigenous fish in recent years
for angling purposes.
Atlantic
Salmon
Salmo salar
Probably
recorded only occasionally, and only at a few of the larger water systems
with easy access to the sea.
Rainbow
trout
Salmo gairdneri
Several
Shetland lochs have been stocked with this species for angling purposes.
The fish are known to overwinter but there has been no evidence of
successful breeding to maintain a stable population.
Arctic
Char
Salvelinus alpinus
Only
recorded from the Loch of Girlsta (central Mainland).
Eel
Anguilla anguilla
Widespread
and common in most of the waterbodies in Shetland.
Three-spined
stickleback
Gasterosteus aculeatus
This
species is widespread throughout Shetland except in the most acidic and
peaty lochs.
Ten-spined
stickleback
Pingutius pingutius
Apparently
recorded from the Loch of Cliff (Unst) although this requires
confirmation.
Flounder
Platichthys
flesus
Has been
recorded in the larger lochs which have easy access to the sea.
Lamprey
Petromyzon marinus
Possibly
recorded in the larger burns, again requires confirmation.
Nature in Shetland
