Red-listed trout caught in Svislach in the center of Minsk. Has it really started living there?
On March 24, angler Yevgeny Razhkov accidentally caught a rare brown trout, listed in the Red Book of Belarus, in the center of Minsk. This happened on the Svislach River near Orlovskaya Street. At first, he thought it was a different fish, but when he saw his catch, he was very surprised. After taking photos, the fisherman released the trout back into the water, writes Smartpress.
Photo by Yevgeny Razhkov
"I only realized who it was at the last moment. As I was reeling it in, I thought it was a small zander, judging by the elongated shadow in the water. When I brought it to the shore, I couldn't believe my eyes, because trout cannot live in such dirty water. When I pulled it out, I was very happy and even pinched myself to check if I was dreaming," says the fisherman.
After taking a couple of photos, the guy released the fish back into the water, too bewildered to even think of taking a video.
Photo by Yevgeny Razhkov
Scientists confirmed that the photo indeed shows a brown trout, but noted that there is currently no information indicating that this species permanently lives in the Svislach within Minsk. Therefore, specialists ask to report similar cases if they recur.
Previously, this fish was found upstream of the Svislach, but now the nearest places where it lives are the Islach and Gain Rivers, which are not connected to the Svislach. Therefore, it could not have entered Minsk on its own.
The theory that birds could have carried the roe is considered unlikely. Most likely, someone released the fish into the river – for example, from an aquarium or after catching it elsewhere.
Trout needs clean, cold water with plenty of oxygen to survive. In Minsk, it could theoretically survive in certain places where springs with clean, cold water flow into the river, but it cannot reproduce there, as this requires a stony bottom, which the Svislach does not have.
Overall, the number of brown trout in Belarus is gradually increasing, and it is now considered a less vulnerable species than before. However, catching such fish is prohibited – if one gets on the hook, it must be immediately released.
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