Fish and other creatures are being wiped out in local waters in the vortex of catastrophic species extinction!
“Walking is the pleasure of the fish. Many species migrate through the water to feed or spawn. But their path is blocked in large numbers by dams, weirs, locks and culverts. Our waters and therefore the living environment of fish are fragmented In Europe alone, there are at least 100,000 obsolete barriers blocking key migration routes,” said Helmut Belanyecz of the Board of Trustees for Fisheries and Water Protection.
Fish stocks plummeted by almost 100 percent
The bitter result, as detailed in the recently published “Living Planet Report”: In particular, freshwater fish that catch large, long-distance fish have declined globally by an average of 76 percent since 1970. Even worse, stocks in Europe have collapsed by 97 percent. Some waters – especially in the foothills of the Alps – are already considered completely fish-free.
However, this dramatic species extinction is followed by a whole rat tail of further threats to rare species. “We must prepare for one of the greatest environmental disasters in recent decades. Because it’s not just one or the other grayling, but dozens of animal species that live in the water,” Belanyecz tries to wake up like a cry in the (water) desert.
Dramatic example: the freshwater pearl mussel. This one needs the brown trout’s gills to deposit their larvae there. Since the special salmonids fell victim to otters and other predators, “Margaritifera margaritifera” – as it is called in zoological terms – is already considered extinct in many waters in the Waldviertel and Mühlviertel. The stocks had already recovered to such an extent that the wonderful mussel could already be removed from the Red List. But those times are over. The brown trout themselves are also affected by the fact that their biotopes are warming up due to global warming. Although “Salmo trutta fario” is trying to move upstream to cooler areas – but at some point it is due.
Great care for the giants of the Danube
The latest victim: the mighty huchen, also known as the Danube salmon. The imposing fish can grow up to 150 centimeters in length and weigh up to 30 kilograms. A study in preparation by several scientists led by internationally renowned wildlife biologist Klaus Hackländer paints an equally bleak picture of the giant of the local underwater world. Climate change (drying out of the rivers, etc.) also has consequences for the Huchen.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
