Norfolk Fishing Network 2004 - 2024 - British Coarse Fish Species A - C

Distribution:The bleak occurs in Europe and Western Asia: north of the Caucasus, Pyrenees and Alps, and eastward toward the Volga basin and North-Western Turkey. It is absent from the major southern peninsulas and most of British Isles except southeast England. It is however locally introduced in Spain, Portugal, and Italy.

Features:The body of the bleak is elongated and flat. The head is pointed and the relatively small mouth is turned upwards. The shiny and pearly colors on the head of a bleak in direct sunlight.The anal fin is long and has 18 to 23 fin rays. The lateral line is complete. The bleak has a shiny silvery colour; and the fins are pointed and colourless. The maximum length is approximately 25 cm. In Europe the bleak can easily be confused with many other species. In England, young bream and silver bream can be confused with young bleak, though the pointed upward turned mouth of the bleak is already distinctive at young stages. Young roach and ruffe have a wider body and a short anal fin.

Habitat: The bleak lives in great schools It is found in streams and lakes. The bleak prefers open waters and is found in large numbers where there is an inflow of food from pumping stations or behind weirs.

Diet:It feeds upon small molluscs, insects that fall in the water, insect larvae, worms, small shellfish and plant detritus.

Spawning:The bleak spawns near the shore in shallow waters. Some are found in deep water. The substrate is not important.

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