Prespa Barbel

Etymology The name Barbus has a Latin origin and describes the morphological featu resof barbells on their mouths. The Latin name prespensis is applied to the area of Prespa Lakes that the fish inhabits.   Description This is an endemic species of ray-finned fish in the Cyprinidae family, which belongs to the Barbinae subfamily. It has two pairs of barbells, one pair is located above the upper lip and the other pair at the ends of the upper lip. The Prespa barbel is distinguished from other species of Barbus in the Balkan Peninsula by the following characteristics: distinctly concave dorsal profile of the snout, lower lip thick, fleshy, with median lobe, 50-54 + 3 lateral line scales, body covered by small, weakly marked black spots. Maximum length - 300 mm.   Distribution Europe:  Prespa Lakes basin.   Biology The Prespa barbel spawns in tributaries, or on gravel beaches in lakes, especially near underwater springs. It spawns from April till July, and migrates to tributaries at night. The adults return to the lake in early July and juveniles start to move to the lake in late July. In Micro Prespa, barbel do not have the possibility to spawn in streams and are forced to spawn in the lake. Within the last two decades when significant water level changes of the lake occured (firstly – decrease and afterwards - increase) the spawning ecology of this species has significantly changed and at present its spawning grounds are restricted and can be found only at certain places in the lake. Barbus feeds mainly on Gammarus in lakes and on insects in streams.   Fishing significance Low. Spring hand caching in Greece allowed for specific period according to law.   Threats Potential threat to the species from water abstraction, drought, pollution, habitat changes, overfishing and introduced species.   Conservation actions Restriction on fishing barbel for a certain period of time (at least 6 years).