British Wildlife Freshwater fishes report 2022

Everard, Mark

Abstract

This article provides an overview of novel issues and challenges in the world of British freshwater fishes throughout 2022.

Successive heatwaves driving temperatures in Britain above 40oC for the first time defined summer 2022, with drought extending into autumn. The Environment Agency blogged on 11th August, “Already this year we have received reports of over 200 dry weather incidents, and we expect this figure to increase”. Media widely reported Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) dying in unprecedented numbers on the River Wye with more tolerant species, such barbel (Barbus barbus), also succumbing. Low rainfall and extreme heat were perceived primary causes, exacerbating pollution linked to proliferation of chicken farming in the catchment. Brown trout (Salmo trutta) mortalities were reported from across Britain, from Cornwall to Lincolnshire.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 10, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Feb 1, 2023
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2023
• Deposit Date: Feb 28, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 19, 2023
• Journal: FISH
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 2022 Issue 5
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 14-17
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10487048
• Publisher URL: https://ifm.org.uk/