Sink or swim: over one in three freshwater fish species in Europe threatened with extinction
The first ever assessment of European freshwater fishes indicates astonishing species diversity but also the devastating impact of over 100 years of development and management of freshwater systems and fishes.
Gland, Switzerland, 1 November, 2007 (IUCN) – The diversity of life in European freshwater ecosystems is rapidly declining, according to a new scientific study.
The research is published in the new book Handbook of European Freshwater Fishes, in collaboration with the World Conservation Union (IUCN). It shows that 200 of the 522 (38%) European freshwater fish species are threatened with extinction and 12 are already extinct, using the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ categories and criteria. This is a much higher level of threat than is facing either Europe’s birds or mammals.
William Darwall, Senior Programme Officer, IUCN Species Programme, said: “With 200 fish species in Europe facing a high risk of going extinct we must act now to avoid a tragedy. Many of these species, not considered as “charismatic” or with any apparent “value” to people, rarely attract the funds needed for their conservation – they risk disappearing with only a dedicated few noticing the loss. These species are an important part of our heritage and are critical to the freshwater ecosystems upon which we do depend, such as for water purification and flood control. Many of these species can be saved through relatively simple measures. All we need is the public and political will to make it happen.”
The main threats behind the high level of extinction risk stem from the development and population growth in Europe over the past 100 years. The most serious single threat is water abstraction, particularly in the dry Mediterranean areas, which has led to some rivers drying up in the summer months which is becoming more acute with the impacts of climatic changes. Large dams built for irrigation, flood control and power generation have had major impacts upon species in large rivers, and have led to local extinction of numerous migratory species. Inappropriate fisheries management has led to overfishing and the introduction of alien species (and their diseases). Areas subject to the highest levels of threat include the lower reaches of the rivers Danube, Dniestr, Dniepr, Volga and Ural, the Balkan Peninsula, and southwestern Spain.
