Stickleback (Three-spined) - Sticklebacks and humans

In some areas, sticklebacks occur in great numbers and they have been turned into oil, animal feed and agricultural fertiliser. The three-spined stickleback is thought of as a pest in the Black Sea region of southeastern Europe because it eats the young of fish which are caught for human consumption and it also competes with these fish for food.

In Britain, the stickleback is not regarded as a pest and, although not seriously threatened, it has been affected by pollution of its habitats and also drainage of ponds and ditches.