Alarm in Great Britain
– The future of salmon looks quite gloomy if the situation does not change. Extinction seems to be a real possibility in a few yearsif we do not take any action – said in an interview with the BBC the CEO of the Ecological Organization Wessex Rivers Trust, Dr. Dave Rumble. Young salmon in the Hampshire County have a problem with reaching the sea, which means that their population is threatened.
What's going on?
The ITCHEN River is a home for one of the most unusual and at risk of species in Great Britain – Atlantic salmon – says Wessex Rivers Trust. These fish are famous for fresh water migration to the open ocean and back. Young salmon in Southampton, called Smolt,, however, have difficulty overcoming barriers in the river that are responsible for water regulation. The current lifts them over or under the constructions, and then back to the sea, which makes Their migration delays and reduces the chances of completing the life cycle and return as adults. Such can have a spawn.
Salmon is dramatically little
Wessex Rivers Trust reports that last year 187 adult salmon returned to the spawning to the ITCHEN River. It's OK. 20 percent minimum number of returning salmon needed to produce enough eggs to maintain the population. The UK Environmental Protection Agency intends to examine the lower section of the ITCHEN River to find a solution that will save the salmon population in British rivers. They are to be more friendly to young salmon.
The number of wild salmon decreases dramatically
What is happening to the ITCHEN River can be treated symbolically. Atlantic salmon resourceso decreased by 80 percent. within 25 years from the 1970s. In the years 2022-2023 their number dropped by as much as 25 %, which for the first time the population of this fish in Great Britain was classified by the International Nature Conservation Union (IUCN) as “threatened”. Meanwhile, the global population went to the “close danger” category. This is influenced by m.in. changes Climate. Optimal temperature For the development of salmon is 6-20 degrees C. The most favorable is 16-17 degrees C. However, these fish begin to show stress at a temperature of about 23 degrees, while mortality occurs around 33 degrees C.
Read also: “Stinking leek”, which allotment gardeners do not like. It is better not to touch him.
Sources: BBC, Wessex Rivers Trust, IUCN