Fen Management Handbook - Scottish Natural Heritage

Table 4 – Fish species associated with fens
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Common Name Scientific Name Freshwater Habitat Distribution
European eel Anguilla anguilla All freshwater habitats Widespread
Silver bream Abramis bjoerkna Turbid, slow-flowing,
enriched lowland rivers,
associated drains and
canals
Common bream Abramis brama Characteristic of nutrient
rich, lowland lakes and
slow-flowing rivers with a
clay/mud bottom
Bleak Alburnus alburnus Found in the associated
drains and backwaters of
larger rivers
Crucian carp Carassius
carassius
Gudgeon Gobio gobio Moderately fast flowing
streams to slow-flowing
lowland rivers. Also in large
lakes, reservoirs and gravel
pits
Roach Rutilus rutilus Lowland rivers and still
waters, particularly tolerant
of poor water quality
in intensively managed
catchments
Rudd Scardinius
erythrophthalmus
East Midlands and east Yorkshire
Widespread in England generally
absent from Scotland, much of Wales
and the extreme southwest of England
Native to the river systems of the
Humber and the Wash and Thames
but have been introduced to other river
systems
Small, rich ponds and lakes Possibly native to south-east England,
introduced elsewhere
Slow-flowing rivers, lakes
and ponds with abundant
submerged vegetation
Tench Tinca tinca Slow-flowing, lowland rivers
and still waters
Spined loach Cobitis taenia Variety of micro-habitats
within shallow rivers and
streams, drains, ditches
and some shallow lakes.
Common factor is presence
of fine silt/sand as a
substrate.
Pike Esox lucius Thrives in many different
waters, from lakes, canals
and slow-flowing rivers and
streams
Widespread in England, absent from
parts of Scotland and Wales
Widespread
Widespread
Throughout much of Southern Britain,
absent from upland areas of Wales and
much of Scotland
Occurs naturally in 5 main river
catchments in the east of England; The
Rivers Trent, Welland, Witham, Nene
and Great Ouse.
Widespread, absent from northern
Scotland.