Tinca tinca
Tench
Family: Cyprinidae
Origin: Europe
Regional Pest Management Plan (RPMP) status
- Aotea — Exclusion
- Priority Lakes Tomarata and Rototoa
- Whole region — Sustained control
- Hauraki Gulf Controlled Area Notice pest
General description
Olive green-bronze fish (30-70 cm) with red eyes, two barbels, large soft-rayed fins and copious mucous.
What you need to know
To help protect our environment:
- you must not distribute or release any tench within the Auckland region
- you must not fish for tench in High Conservation Value water bodies or their catchments within the Auckland region
Habitats
Soft substrates of still or slow-moving waterbodies, lakes, ponds.
Impact on environment
Can cause flipping of lakes to alternative turbid state devoid of vegetation through uprooting submerged macrophytes, re-suspending sediment and exacerbating algal blooms by consuming zooplankton. Impacts native fish species through transmission of parasites, competition for prey and reduction of water clarity.
Control
Management
Check equipment and vessels for freshwater pests, clean everything that has been in contact with the water and dry everything thoroughly.
For more information about tench and how to manage them, please contact Auckland Council at pestfree@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.
