Anglers Perceptions About European Catfish Silurus glanis in a Newly Invaded Region
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
3. Results
3.1. Survey Responses
3.2. Principal Component Analysis
3.3. Multivariate Regression Modelling
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Appendix A
Survey Questions | Type of Answer |
---|---|
1. Questions (Q) about anglers’ sociodemographic features | |
Q1.1 Gender | Binomial Male/Female. |
Q1.2 Age | 5 age groups (years) <18; 18–30; 31–50; 51–70; >70. |
Q1.3 Occupation | 4 occupation possibilities Employed; Student; Unemployed; Retired. |
Q1.4 District of residence | Open answer |
2. Questions about angling activity | |
Q2.1 For how many years have you been angling? | 5-point scale (years) <5; 5–10; 11–20; 21–50; >50. |
Q2.2 How often do you go angling? | 4-point scale Several times a week; At least once a week; At least once a month; Less than ten times a year. |
Q2.3 How far do you travel to fish? | 4-point scale (Km), plus one possibility <5; 5–30; 31–100; >100; and Abroad. |
Q2.4 What group of species do you mainly fish for? | 7 possibilities (multiple answer) Predators (pikeperch, largemouth bass and European catfish); Common carp and Barbels; Trout; Species common in sport angling (e.g., nases, roach; goldfish and gibel carp, bleak, black bullhead); Mullets; European Eel; Anadromous fish (sea lamprey and shads); Other species. |
3. Questions about European catfish angling | |
Q3.1 Your knowledge of European catfish (identification, biology, ecology) is good. | 5-point scale Totally agree; Agree; Neither agree nor disagree; Disagree; Totally disagree. |
Q3.2 Did you already angled for European catfish? | 2-point scale Yes; Never. |
Q3.3 If you fish it how many European catfish do you usually catch per year? | 4-point scale <5; 5–10; 11–50;>50. |
Q3.4. What do you do to European catfish when you catch it? | 2-point scale Sacrifice; Release back to water |
Q3.5 European catfish are beneficial to the development of sport-recreational angling. | 5-point scale Totally agree; Agree; Neither agree nor disagree; Disagree; Totally disagree. |
Q3.6 European catfish is an angling trophy. | 5-point scale Totally agree; Agree; Neither agree nor disagree; Disagree; Totally disagree. |
4. Questions about the impact of European catfish on other fish species | |
Q4.1 European catfish have a positive impact on other fish species. | 5-point scale Totally agree; Agree; Neither agree nor disagree; Disagree; Totally disagree. |
Q4.2 European catfish have a negative impact on other fish species. | 5-point scale Totally agree; Agree; Neither agree nor disagree; Disagree; Totally disagree. |
Q4.3 If you agree with the previous answer, indicate which species are impacted. | 6 possibilities (multiple answer) Predators (pikeperch and largemouth bass); Common, crucian, and Prussian carps; Diadromous fish (eels, shads, and sea lamprey); Bleak; Barbels; Other species. |
Q4.4 Indicate why they are impacted. | Open answer |
Q4.5 Where European catfish may have a negative impact, what do you think needs to be done? | 7 possibilities (multiple answer) Remove all catfish locally; Remove all big catfish (>130 cm) locally; Remove all small catfish (<130 cm) locally; Scare the fish away; Finding an alternative solution, considering the specific context; No opinion; Other alternatives. |
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Questions (Q) About Anglers’ Sociodemographic Features | Catfish Anglers % (n) | Non-Catfish Anglers % (n) |
---|---|---|
Q1.1 Gender (χ2 = 1.2724; p = 0.3493) | ||
Male | 98.2 (112) | 95.9 (212) |
Female | 1.75 (2) | 4.07 (9) |
Q1.2 Age (years) (χ2 = 11.459; p < 0.05) | ||
< 18 | 0.0 (0) | 0.45 (1) |
18–30 | 21.9 (25) | 15.8 (35) |
31–50 | 52.6 (60) | 41.4 (92) |
51–70 | 24.6 (28) | 37.4 (83) |
>70 | 0.88 (1) | 4.95 (11) |
Q1.3 Occupation (χ2 = 11.304; p < 0.001) | ||
Employed | 92.0 (103) | 77.9 (173) |
Student | 0.89 (1) | 5.41 (12) |
Unemployed | 0.0 (0) | 1.8 (4) |
Retired | 7.14 (8) | 14.9 (33) |
Q1.4 District of residence (χ2 = 30.164; p < 0.001) | ||
Santarém | 29.5 (31) | 26.7 (55) |
Lisboa | 6.67 (7) | 10.2 (21) |
Castelo Branco | 19.0 (20) | 3.4 (7) |
Portalegre | 10.5 (11) | 7.28 (15) |
Coimbra | 8.57 (9) | 5.83 (12) |
Porto | 2.86 (3) | 6.31 (13) |
Sum of all other less responded districts | 22.9 (24) | 40.3 (83) |
Questions (Q) About Angling Activity | Catfish Anglers % (n) | Non-Catfish Anglers % (n) |
---|---|---|
Q2.1 For how many years have you been angling? (χ2 = 4.1455; p = 0.3633) | ||
<5 | 9.56 (11) | 7.59 (17) |
5–10 | 10.4 (12) | 8.48 (19) |
11–20 | 20.0 (23) | 18.8 (42) |
21–50 | 53.9 (62) | 52.2 (117) |
>50 | 6.09 (7) | 12.9 (29) |
Q2.2 How often do you go angling? (χ2 = 0.92243; p = 0.8436) | ||
Several times a week | 17.4 (20) | 14.7 (33) |
At least once a week | 43.5 (50) | 42.9 (96) |
At least once a month | 29.6 (34) | 29.9 (67) |
Less than ten times a year | 9.57 (11) | 12.5 (28) |
Q2.3 How far do you travel to fish? (χ2 = 18.189; p < 0.001) | ||
<5 Km | 6.09 (7) | 6.25 (14) |
5–30 Km | 34.8 (40) | 24.1 (54) |
31–100 Km | 30.4 (35) | 38.8 (87) |
>100 Km | 20.9 (24) | 29.9 (67) |
Abroad | 7.83 (9) | 0.89 (2) |
Q2.4 What group of species do you mainly fish for (multiple answer)? (χ2 = 15.698; p < 0.001) | ||
Predators (pikeperch, largemouth bass, and European catfish) | 39.7 (89) | 25.4 (110) |
Common carp and Barbels | 29.0 (65) | 35.1 (152) |
Trout | 5.36 (12) | 7.16 (31) |
Species common in sport angling (nases, roach; goldfish and gibel carp, bleak, black bullhead) | 16.5 (37) | 23.3 (101) |
Mullets | 7.14 (16) | 6.70 (29) |
Other species | 2.23 (5) | 2.31 (10) |
Questions (Q) About European Catfish Angling | Catfish Anglers % (n) | Non-Catfish Anglers % (n) |
---|---|---|
Q3.1 Your knowledge about European catfish (identification, biology, ecology) is good? (χ2 = 31.148; p < 0.001) | ||
Totally agree | 21.7 (25) | 8.48 (19) |
Agree | 37.4 (43) | 36.2 (81) |
Neither agree or disagree | 36.5 (42) | 29.9 (67) |
Disagree | 4.35 (5) | 13.8 (31) |
Totally disagree | 0.00 (0) | 11.6 (26) |
Q3.3 If you fish it how many European catfish do you usually catch per year? (χ2 = 78.732; p < 0.001) | ||
<5 | 59.1 (68) | 96.0 (215) |
5–10 | 4.35 (5) | 1.79 (4) |
11–50 | 31.3 (36) | 1.79 (4) |
>50 | 5.22 (6) | 0.45 (1) |
Q3.4 What do you do to European catfish when you catch it? (χ2 = 5.7186; p < 0.05) | ||
Sacrifice | 45.5 (51) | 61.4 (70) |
Release to the water | 54.5 (61) | 38.6 (44) |
Q3.5 European catfish is beneficial to the development of sport-recreational angling. (χ2 = 26.379; p < 0.001) | ||
Totally agree | 11.3 (13) | 0.00 (0) |
Agree | 11.3 (13) | 12.1 (27) |
Neither agree or disagree | 14.8 (17) | 18.4 (41) |
Disagree | 25.2 (29) | 27.4 (61) |
Totally disagree | 37.4 (43) | 42.2 (94) |
Q3.6 European catfish is an angling trophy. (χ2 = 3.3199; p = 0.4998) | ||
Totally agree | 21.2 (24) | 14.0 (31) |
Agree | 23.0 (26) | 26.2 (58) |
Neither agree nor disagree | 15.0 (17) | 15.8 (35) |
Disagree | 17.7 (20) | 21.7 (48) |
Totally disagree | 23.0 (26) | 22.2 (49) |
Questions (Q) About the Impact of European Catfish on Other Fish Species | Catfish Anglers % (n) | Non-Catfish Anglers % (n) |
---|---|---|
Q4.1 European catfish has a positive impact on other fish species. (χ2 = 10.058; p < 0.05) | ||
Totally agree | 2.63 (3) | 0.0 (0) |
Agree | 0.88 (1) | 0.45 (1) |
Neither agree or disagree | 12.3 (14) | 7.27 (16) |
Disagree | 35.1 (40) | 31.8 (70) |
Totally disagree | 49.1 (56) | 60.5 (133) |
Q4.2 European catfish has a negative impact on other fish species. (χ2 = 14.34; p < 0.001) | ||
Totally agree | 55.3 (63) | 62.9 (139) |
Agree | 28.9 (33) | 31.2 (69) |
Neither agree or disagree | 8.77 (10) | 5.43 (12) |
Disagree | 5.26 (6) | 0.45 (1) |
Totally disagree | 1.75 (2) | 0.00 (0) |
Q4.3 If you agree with the previous answer, indicate which species are impacted (multiple answers): (χ2 = 4.4709; p = 0.4818) | ||
Predators (pikeperch and largemouth bass) | 17.5 (62) | 15.8 (132) |
Carps and goldfish and gibel carp | 22.3 (79) | 19.5 (163) |
Diadromous fish (eels, shads, and sea lamprey) | 16.6 (59) | 17.0 (142) |
Bleak | 16.9 (60) | 16.7 (139) |
Barbels | 19.4 (69) | 20.1 (168) |
Other species | 7.32 (26) | 10.8 (90) |
Q4.4 Indicate why they are impacted? (χ2 = 13.56; p = 0.7831) | ||
Predation | 89.8 (53) | 91.4 (139) |
Other reasons | 10.2 (6) | 8.55 (13) |
Q4.5 Where European catfish may have a negative impact, what do you think needs to be done (multiple answers)? (χ2 = 17.285; p < 0.001) | ||
Remove all catfish locally | 39.5 (51) | 58.7 (138) |
Remove all big catfish (>130 cm) locally | 10.1 (13) | 5.96 (14) |
Remove all small catfish (<130 cm) locally | 8.53 (11) | 4.26 (10) |
Scare the fish away | 0.0 (0) | 0.85 (2) |
Finding an alternative solution considering the specific context | 3.88 (5) | 1.28 (3) |
No opinion | 19.4 (25) | 17.4 (41) |
Other alternatives | 18.6 (24) | 11.5 (27) |
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Gago, J.; Rivaes, R.; Ribeiro, D.; Dias, D.; Castagné, P.; Santoul, F.; Ribeiro, F. Anglers Perceptions About European Catfish Silurus glanis in a Newly Invaded Region. Diversity 2025, 17, 252. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17040252
Gago J, Rivaes R, Ribeiro D, Dias D, Castagné P, Santoul F, Ribeiro F. Anglers Perceptions About European Catfish Silurus glanis in a Newly Invaded Region. Diversity. 2025; 17(4):252. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17040252
Chicago/Turabian StyleGago, João, Rui Rivaes, Diogo Ribeiro, Diogo Dias, Paul Castagné, Frédéric Santoul, and Filipe Ribeiro. 2025. "Anglers Perceptions About European Catfish Silurus glanis in a Newly Invaded Region" Diversity 17, no. 4: 252. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17040252
APA StyleGago, J., Rivaes, R., Ribeiro, D., Dias, D., Castagné, P., Santoul, F., & Ribeiro, F. (2025). Anglers Perceptions About European Catfish Silurus glanis in a Newly Invaded Region. Diversity, 17(4), 252. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17040252