Conservation Of Threatened Freshwater Fish In Europe

Author : Justin Toland
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9789279440267
Total Pages : 64 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (42 download)

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Download or read book LIFE and Freshwater Fish written by Justin Toland and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The conservation of Europe's freshwater fish and their habitats is an important EU policy goal, supported not only through the habitats directive and the EU 2020 biodiversity strategy, but also, because of the clear and close links between water quality and fish conservation status, through the implementation of the water framework directive and associated river basin management plans. As the only specific source of European-level funding for nature conservation, the LIFE programme has made a huge contribution to the improved status of threatened fish species across the EU. This includes vital work in favour of near extinct species such as the houting (Coregonus oxyrinchus), allis shad (Alosa alosa) and saramugo (Anaecypris hispanica). In all, LIFE has already targeted 51 of the 65 freshwater fish species listed in the annexes of the habitats directive.^Projects within this publication can be divided into several categories: those that highlight the impact of river habitat restoration projects on fish species (some 80% of all freshwater fish projects); those that reintroduce or restock target fish species; those that overcome barriers to migratory species through the addition of fish passages; and those that raise awareness of the threats facing protected fish species and that engage with stakeholders to improve conditions for those species. In addition to highlighting the positive impacts of LIFE on freshwater fish conservation, this new brochure provides food for thought by outlining some lessons from completed projects and potential improvements or areas of renewed or increased focus in future. As the project examples highlighted in this publication demonstrate, in many cases LIFE co-funding has helped inspire further conservation actions that build on the work started through the programme.^In addition to their pump-priming effects, LIFE projects have had demonstrable effects in terms of ecosystem services, for instance by improving the overall health of river systems, increasing populations of species fished commercially and for leisure, and indirectly strengthening flood defences through reinstating natural river dynamics, an important co-benefit that helps in climate change adaptation. LIFE projects have also added value at European level through cross-border cooperation and through networking events such as the LIFE platform meeting on riverine species, held in Estonia in September 2014. Freshwater fish conservation and river habitat restoration will continue to be supported by traditional LIFE projects for the 2014-2020 funding period. The scope of funding has been widened to include species in the IUCN European Red List, enabling LIFE to have a positive impact on an even greater number of threatened species.^Furthermore, the addition of integrated projects to the programme's portfolio promises to improve linkage between the Natura 2000 network and the river basin management plans, as well as enabling larger and more ambitious projects at regional and national scale. In this way, LIFE funding can have an even greater impact in terms of job growth within the vitally important blue and green economy.