EarthSky // Interviews // Water Posted Oct 26, 2009

Peter Moyle says fresh water stresses causing global fish decline

Photo Credit: BONGURI
Photo Credit: BONGURI

“We have pollution, we have massive changes to the rivers caused by dams, we introduce non-native species, we alter our lakes and rivers to accommodate cities and farms. It basically means we’re stressing the fresh waters of the world to their limits,” says Moyle.

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Peter Moyle: Fresh water makes up one-hundredth of one percent of the water on the planet. That’s just a tiny little amount, and we humans of course depend on that water – and so do the fish.

Peter Moyle is an expert on freshwater fish – the fish that live in lakes and streams around the world. Moyle, who works at University of California – Davis, said many freshwater fish species are in trouble. He discovered this when he analyzed fish population data from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Peter Moyle: The estimate that we’re coming up with for the percentage of the world’s freshwater fish fauna that’s in serious trouble is between 30-50%. Somewhere between four thousand and seven thousand species are expected to go extinct in the reasonable future, if present trends continue.

Moyle estimates that’s 50 to 100 years from now. He told EarthSky that the freshwater fish decline reflects the poor health of the planet’s fresh water systems.

Peter Moyle: We have pollution, we have massive changes to the rivers caused by dams, we introduce non-native species, we alter our lakes and rivers to accommodate cities and farms. It basically means we’re stressing the fresh waters of the world to their limits.

Moyle said that all countries all around the world are being affected.

Peter Moyle: What you find is the countries with the highest percentage of endangered species are the highly industrialized countries like the United States, or they tend to be countries that are in dry areas, or desert countries, but this is not confined to just one or two countries.

Moyle said the stressed fish population reflects the stresses we’re putting on our freshwater systems. Moyle urged immediate action, and added that in California, where he works, 73% of the freshwater fish are currently in severe decline, with a smaller percentage already listed as endangered.

Peter Moyle: We’ve already got 23% of them listed right now by federal or state authorities, so it’s not just me saying this. It’s very real.

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3 Responses to Peter Moyle says fresh water stresses causing global fish decline

  1. I am constantly worried about the state the world will be in when my boys are adults. I try now to teach them now about recycleing and water concervation and the importance of keeping our part of the earth clean. We strive to stay eco-friendly with the products we use. Many people say my seven year old George is a enviroment fanatic (its kind of a family joke) But it makes me proud to see him do his part and remind me to do mine ,when I get laxed. I hope one day he will be a major part of claening up the beautiful earth God gave us to enjoy. If he only does what he can and shares this information with my future grand children I will still be proud. His current goal in life is to teach his two year old brother Bobby to clean up after himself and not waist water in the tub, because some people don’t have water to take a bath in. I love to hear him try to teach him(Lecture) during bath time at night. Thank-you for giving me info I can teach my children to help save the earth. God Bless, from a appriciative mother Alica

  2. Beth L. says:

    Alicia,

    Thanks for your sweet and heartfelt comment. Enjoyed reading it. :)

    Beth

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