Introduction |
Taxonomy |
Morphology |
Distribution |
Diet |
Size |
Aging |
Spawning |
Predation |
Extinction |

The Arctic Char, Salvelinus alpinus, in Ireland

Predation
There are many predators of arctic char in Irish lakes. The most common predator in many lakes is the pike, Esox lucius, an introduced species which is now found in nearly every Irish catchment. Adult trout and perch Perca fluviatilus are also know to predate char. Ferox trout are often caught with char in their stomachs. In Lough Corrib large eels are known to eat char, though whether they actively pursue the fish or ambush them is not clear. What is clear is that to eels char smell rather attractive. In netting operations char are often the first captured fish to be molested by marauding eels in preference to trout and other ensnared fish.