Pike Factories – Restoring Wetlands for Natural Pike Reproduction

Summary

Pike has an important function in the marine ecosystem as a top predator, but has shown population declines in recent years due to loss of habitat, in particular loss of spawning areas. Pike prefer areas that are flooded in spring since the shallow water warms quickly and protects the juveniles from larger predators before they disperse into the ocean when they are a little bigger. By restoring this kind of seasonal wetlands, the population can be strengthened to stabilize the Baltic Sea ecosystem. Another positive effect from the pike factory is the nutrient retention potential, as the water contains less nutrients when it reaches the Baltic Sea after passing through the wetlands.

This project was part of a larger conservation effort to help restore pike stocks by facilitating spawning opportunities in areas that previously functioned as pike reproduction sites. The project restored two degraded wetlands along the Blekinge coast in southern Sweden, with the aim to enable natural flooding during spring, recreating spawning habitats. The results were very positive and have been used nationally as a good example of nature restoration.