Barriers for Fish Conservation
Fish conservation is an ongoing battle with more opponents than proponents in many cases. Conservation workers encounter numerous legal and physical barriers that slow and prevent restorative progress. Although numerous barriers do exist, fish conservationists are adamant in their cause and fight to protect and restore wild rivers and species.
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Water Usage
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Water use by communities is a large barrier for fish conservation. The problem is especially evident in the Western United States where a large amount of water is used to maintain non-native plant species in the home landscape. The water is drawn away from rivers and streams, and the low flows have a major impact on the fisheries. Water usage is a widespread problem that is difficult to combat because usage regulations are minimal, and encouraging conservation in a large population base is difficult.
Dams
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Dams block the natural course of a river to store water for human use. Dams are also used to generate electricity in many large rivers. The massive concrete structures block migratory fish passage to native spawning grounds. Dams also create unnatural flow fluctuations and change the temperature of the water downstream. Although dams will cooperate by installing fish ladders to help migratory species bypass the structure, they are a well-funded barrier for fish conservation.
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Water Quality
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Mining is one of the leading causes of water quality reduction, but all forms of pollution contribute to the issue and create major barrier for fish conservation projects. Pollution will poison and kill entire fisheries in extreme cases, and in others it will cause genetic mutations and raise the mercury levels in fish to point that consuming the animal becomes a threat to human safety. Airborne pollution will travel in rain and be distributed in water sources and disturbed on Earth combined with runoff will cause chemical agents to enter fish habitat. Many mining and pollution-based projects are well-funded, and the demand for materials overrides the risk assessment for the environment and the fish populations.
Agriculture
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Agriculture practices provide a barrier to fish conservation through habitat loss, pollution and blocked access to a fishery. In many states, the land owner will control the water rights and the sole access to a long section of river or reservoir. Drawing water levels to extreme low levels contributes to fish kill. Livestock grazing also erodes river banks and contributes loss of habitat. Chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides will run off into the water source and damage fish populations. Many landowners will cooperate with fisheries studies to assess the impact of their practice, but some will deny fish conservationists access to study the waters on their property.
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References
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources: Effects of Sand and Gravel Mining
- Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations: Introduction to Agricultural Water Pollution
- Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations; Environmental Issues-Dams and Fish Migrations; Michel Larinier
- Eagle Valley Trout Unlimited; Upper Colorado River-An Ecosystem on the Brink; January 2010
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
