A Fishy Tale

The World's Forgotten Fishes report (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/23/global-freshwater-fish-populations-at-risk-of-extinction-study-finds) highlights the dire state of the planet's freshwater fish species. Freshwater fish populations have declined by 76% since 1970 and large fish (those around 30kg) have been eliminated from most of the world's rivers. Sadly, 16 freshwater fish species were declared extinct last year. The reasons for the declines and extinctions are both predictable and obvious. Pollution, overfishing and climate change are the main problems faced by these animals. The human tendency to put dams into rivers for irrigation and hydroelectricity also makes lives difficult for species migrating between freshwater and the sea. It is notable, that even a rich country like the UK, apparently cannot maintain any of its rivers in a healthy condition.