Saving the world's fish

Date: 20 July 2011

Over half (52%) of the species of vertebrate animals (animals with backbones) in the world are fish and there are species yet to discover in the remoter parts of the planet.

Many species are vital as a food for human populations in both developed and developing countries and the range of shapes, behaviour and habitats add greatly to the biodiversity of most regions of the world.

Fish inhabit places such as the freezing arctic seas, where their blood contains a version of fishy anti-freeze, and at the other extreme hot muddy pools where they survive in mud for long periods if the pool dries out.

Many species in freshwaters and in the seas and estuaries are the staple diet of both developing and developed human communities. But they are also in great danger of extinction as a result of human impacts on their habitats. Pollution, dams, hydro-electric schemes, water abstraction and overfishing have over many years depleted stocks and reduced diversity. Introductions of alien species, often by fishery managers or fishermen, have caused native species to decline as a result of competition and predation.

This week scientists from 22 countries are meeting at Bournemouth University to thrash out the problems using scientific investigations to try to resolve the problems which plague the world's fish species.

The conference on Fish Diversity and Conservation is organised by the Fisheries Society of the British Isles (FSBI) and Bournemouth University to discuss the scientific results and how to use them to benefit the world's fisheries. Only careful investigation translated into political policies and management plans will solve many of the problems.

The FSBI is the premier fishery science society in Britain and a leading world authority. Coupled with the expertise from ecologists at Bournemouth University, it is hoped this conference will make steps in saving the threatened fisheries and some of the food problems facing the world today.

Bournemouth University’s Professor of Ecology, Professor Rudy Gozlan said: “In this century, conservation ecology will not remain a vague philosophical debate, a scientific hobby or an emotional relation to our environment. Nor will it remain a political token. In the next few decades conservation ecology will become a matter of national security... your security.”