Fish-Tales (English)
'Onder water in Leiden' translates as Under water in Leiden.
NEWS! What's a Christmas tree doing in the canal?
- An "artificial reef" has been placed in the Binnenvestgracht, beneath the bridge at the cemetery Groenesteeg. It was the old X-mas tree from the Beestenmarkt, kindly donated to us by De Bloemenboot.
- It will provide shelter, food and ample space for native predatory fish to lay their eggs. Think: pike, zander, perch and sticklebacks.
- The past years we noticed that invasive species like the roundhead and tubenosed gobies liked to eat their eggs, because they're the first protein-rich food source after the winter.
- American Crayfish are decimating waterplants, therefore destroying sites for fish to cling their eggs on.
- It's a trial to see if the pine tree will deter exotic species (results unknown), for native species to lay their eggs and hide in without being disturbed by gobies and crayfish (positive results expected).
- It will last until June 2023 or even longer, if the results are satisfying. We'll be monitoring that closely!
- We'll be picking up the floating trash next to the reef with our XXL graspers, fishing nets and if necessary our clean-up kajak.
- Here's the Dutch information leaflet about this project.
- P.s. we're trying with council and owners to get the two licensed boats another location to moor their vessels. This will prevent any more oil-spills.
- The boat barrier/reef will also deter misinformed boats that wish to sail on through this part of the fish reservation (see below; Dutch only).
Recap of our project
- 'Under water in Leiden' is a unique project in the Netherlands, started by locals in 2011. Locals became interested in the life under the surface after the city-canals got cleaner and clearer.
- This clarity (and growing abundance of wildlife) was mainly due to well-planned maintenance of the waterways within the city and surrounding areas.
- The project 'Monitoring of Fish', encompasses the checking and counting of wildlife in the canals and is since 2013 an official biodiversity project.
- 26 species of fish have been spotted in Leiden, by trained volunteers and fishermen alike.