Publication: Perch egg ribbons in spring
Publication: Perch egg ribbons in spring
In 2025 I spent many hours diving in Dutch freshwater lakes during the spawning season. During that period, I focused on freshwater underwater photography in the Netherlands, documenting biological processes that often remain unnoticed beneath the surface.
One of these observations developed into a photographic article on freshwater fish reproduction, focusing on the remarkable egg ribbons of the European perch.
Perch Egg Ribbons
This article focuses on the remarkable egg ribbons of the European perch (Perca fluviatilis). During the spawning season, perch deposit their eggs in long gelatinous ribbons that drape across underwater vegetation, branches and other submerged structures. These ribbons can stretch for several meters and form a distinctive, net-like structure in the water.
At first glance they resemble translucent nets suspended in the water. A closer look reveals something far more complex. Each individual egg contains a developing embryo, clearly visible within the transparent matrix. Over time, the first eyes become visible, pigmentation begins to appear and the small fish gradually take shape.
Unlike many other fish species, perch do not actively guard their eggs after spawning. The ribbons are left attached to structures in the environment, where they develop exposed to surrounding conditions. Their gelatinous structure offers some protection, but survival largely depends on environmental factors such as water quality, temperature and predation.
Documenting this process involved revisiting the same locations during the spawning period and photographing the different stages of development. These observations were made together with my dive buddy Mark, with whom I documented the progression from freshly laid eggs to fully formed embryos.
The full article, available in Dutch only, has been published in René Magazine, Issue 2 (carpe diem), Spring 2026.
Looking Beneath the Surface
Much of what happens on the lakebed goes unnoticed. During the spawning season, perch egg ribbons drift quietly between aquatic plants, branches and other submerged structures. Without careful observation, these delicate structures are easily overlooked.
By slowing down and revisiting the same locations over time, small details begin to reveal larger biological processes. What initially appears to be an empty patch of vegetation or open water can suddenly turn out to contain the early stages of new life.
Observing these egg ribbons over time provides insight into a reproductive strategy that relies not on parental care, but on quantity, structure and timing. It is a subtle but effective approach, hidden in plain sight beneath the surface.
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