Dace

Leuciscus leuciscus

Overview

Photo credit:  ©Paul McLoone
Leuciscus leuciscus
Habitat:
  • Dace primarily inhabits fast flowing water systems, although it is also found in lowland rivers and lakes.

Description:
  • Dace is a relatively small cyprinid fish, generally not living for more than ten years. The dace has a dorso-ventrally flattened symmetry, which makes it suited to fast flowing water. The flanks are silver, darkening to a bluish green along the back.

Download N.I.E.A. ID guide


Origin and Distribution:
  • Introduced from Britain.

Impacts:
  • The most pressing of the threats posed by dace is the impact on native salmonids. Dace, trout and salmon have similar habitat preferences and all spawn over gravels in fast flowing water. Efforts to create and improve breeding grounds for salmonids in the Munster Blackwater have been hampered by dace moving onto the newly introduced gravels at spawning times.

How did it get here?
  • In 1889 anglers river fishing on the Munster Blackwater released a number of dace and roach, which were being held as live bait.

Is it found in Ireland or Northern Ireland?
  • It is not present in Northern Ireland
  • More distribution information information can be found at NBN Atlas NI.

You can help by reporting any sightings: @ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Prevent Spread:
  • Do not introduce non native fish species.
  • Do not move species of fish from one waterbody to another.
  • Do not use live bait in river systems.
  • Report all sightings.
For further queries, you can contact the Invasive Non Native Species (INNS) Team in the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on 028 9056 9558 or Email: invasivespecies@daera-ni.gov.uk  

Species Related Files:

Invasive Species Northern Ireland

Invasive Species Northern Ireland