Recent research has highlighted a growing crisis in our freshwater ecosystems, where nearly half of all fish species and 10% of mammals depend on rivers and lakes for their survival.
A troubling combination of climate change and pollution is accelerating the destruction of these vital habitats, endangering both the aquatic life that depends on them and the broader ecological balance.
While scientists have long been aware that pollution and rising water temperatures harm freshwater species, new findings reveal that the synergy between these two factors exacerbates the decline of aquatic biodiversity.
The impact is particularly severe on small organisms, which are crucial as a food source for larger fish.
New research reveals an urgent need for action to protect rivers from pollution and climate change.This is exemplified in the River Seine in Paris, where fish populations are dwindling due to the harmful effects of warmer water combined with pollution.
In Britain, the situation is no less dire. For decades, privatized water companies and poorly regulated industrial farming operations have been discharging raw sewage, animal waste, and fertilizers into waterways.
This long-standing practice has sparked significant public outcry, prompting the new government to pledge reforms aimed at addressing these issues. However, recent research underscores that the situation is even more urgent than previously realized.
Iconic fish species such as trout and salmon, as well as already endangered eels, rely on clean and cool rivers for their survival and reproduction.
The decline of these species could result in the loss of cherished trout and salmon fisheries and threaten long-established coarse fisheries. The need for immediate action to restore and protect freshwater environments has never been more pressing.