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Italy has denounced the proliferation of catfish in Lake Garda, also known as siluro or torpedo. It is an invasive species that can grow up to three meters long and Italian experts see it as a serious threat to the ecosystem in the area.
This species seeks temperate waters, areas with plenty of food and no natural predators nearby, conditions that are found in the lake in northern Italy, which worries fishermen and ecologists, even issuing an alert for dogs or cats that approach.
What do the experts say about the danger of catfish?
One of them, Marco Brognoli, a professional fisherman, explained: "Nowadays it is common to find fish over two meters. A few years ago, this was unthinkable," noting that in a single day he and his team were able to catch 14 catfish.
This has alerted the biodiversity of the lake, as it consumes native fish and waterfowl, such as ducks. In fact, people have been warned not to take their pets, especially small dogs or cats, to the shore, as they could be at risk.
In addition, this problem does not only affect Italy, Spain also has this problem, as explained in the magazine Jara y Sedal: "The most worrying thing is that the bad omens are true. As we have already reported on several occasions in Jara y Sedal, the catfish is already present in other basins different from that of the Ebro. This is the case of the Jucar, the Pisuerga, the Duero, the Tormes and the Guadalquivir".
"Species such as carp, barbel, trout, boga and even other predators such as black bass or pike, are seeing their populations worryingly reduced in those waters where it is present," they say.